Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India
Abstract Background The effect of forest fire on soil is complex and relatively less understood than its above ground effect. Understanding the effect of fire on forest soils can allow improving management of valuable forest ecosystems as adequate and proper information is very important for efficie...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Forest Ecosystems |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-019-0168-0 |
| _version_ | 1828074971725824000 |
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| author | Satyam Verma Dharmatma Singh Ajeet Kumar Singh Shanmuganathan Jayakumar |
| author_facet | Satyam Verma Dharmatma Singh Ajeet Kumar Singh Shanmuganathan Jayakumar |
| author_sort | Satyam Verma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The effect of forest fire on soil is complex and relatively less understood than its above ground effect. Understanding the effect of fire on forest soils can allow improving management of valuable forest ecosystems as adequate and proper information is very important for efficient management. We have studied the recovery of soil properties after fire, using a chronosequence approach (two, five and fifteen years after fire and control). Soil samples were collected from each plot of four fire patches (B0, B2, B5 & B15) from three different depths viz. 0–10 (Top), 10–20 (Middle), and 20–30 cm (Bottom). Results Soil organic carbon was lower than unburned plots after the fire and could not recover to the level of unburned plot (B0) even in 15 years. Total N, available P, and extractable K were lower 2-years and 5-years after the fire but are higher than unburned plot after 15-years. Available nitrogen (NO3 − and NH4 +) remain unchanged or higher than B0 in burned patches. Soil pH, Bulk Density, Water Holding Capacity, and Electrical Conductivity was lower initially after the fire. Forest fires have affected soil properties considerably. The response of soil properties varied with years after fire and soil depth. Conclusion Forest fires occur very frequently in the study area. Significant quantities of carbon and total nitrogen are lost to the atmosphere by burning of litter, duff, and soil OM. Because nitrogen is one of the most important soil nutrients, the recapture of N lost by volatilization during a fire must receive special attention. Long-term studies are required to better understand the recovery of soil nitrogen. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:52:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a30fa91b4934d27b97e8e0f9881c367 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-5620 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:52:12Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forest Ecosystems |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a30fa91b4934d27b97e8e0f9881c3672023-01-03T06:15:45ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Forest Ecosystems2197-56202019-02-01611910.1186/s40663-019-0168-0Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, IndiaSatyam Verma0Dharmatma Singh1Ajeet Kumar Singh2Shanmuganathan Jayakumar3Environmental Informatics and Spatial Modeling Lab, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry UniversityEnvironmental Informatics and Spatial Modeling Lab, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry UniversityEnvironmental Informatics and Spatial Modeling Lab, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry UniversityEnvironmental Informatics and Spatial Modeling Lab, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry UniversityAbstract Background The effect of forest fire on soil is complex and relatively less understood than its above ground effect. Understanding the effect of fire on forest soils can allow improving management of valuable forest ecosystems as adequate and proper information is very important for efficient management. We have studied the recovery of soil properties after fire, using a chronosequence approach (two, five and fifteen years after fire and control). Soil samples were collected from each plot of four fire patches (B0, B2, B5 & B15) from three different depths viz. 0–10 (Top), 10–20 (Middle), and 20–30 cm (Bottom). Results Soil organic carbon was lower than unburned plots after the fire and could not recover to the level of unburned plot (B0) even in 15 years. Total N, available P, and extractable K were lower 2-years and 5-years after the fire but are higher than unburned plot after 15-years. Available nitrogen (NO3 − and NH4 +) remain unchanged or higher than B0 in burned patches. Soil pH, Bulk Density, Water Holding Capacity, and Electrical Conductivity was lower initially after the fire. Forest fires have affected soil properties considerably. The response of soil properties varied with years after fire and soil depth. Conclusion Forest fires occur very frequently in the study area. Significant quantities of carbon and total nitrogen are lost to the atmosphere by burning of litter, duff, and soil OM. Because nitrogen is one of the most important soil nutrients, the recapture of N lost by volatilization during a fire must receive special attention. Long-term studies are required to better understand the recovery of soil nitrogen.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-019-0168-0Soil propertiesWestern GhatsTropical dry deciduous ForestForest fireForest soils |
| spellingShingle | Satyam Verma Dharmatma Singh Ajeet Kumar Singh Shanmuganathan Jayakumar Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India Forest Ecosystems Soil properties Western Ghats Tropical dry deciduous Forest Forest fire Forest soils |
| title | Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India |
| title_full | Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India |
| title_fullStr | Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India |
| title_short | Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India |
| title_sort | post fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of western ghats india |
| topic | Soil properties Western Ghats Tropical dry deciduous Forest Forest fire Forest soils |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-019-0168-0 |
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