Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary

One of the major pedological changes produced by wildfires is the drastic modification of forest soil systems properties. To our knowledge, large research gaps are currently present concerning the effect of such fires on forest Haplic Luvisols soils in Central Europe. In this study, the effects of e...

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Main Authors: Jack M. Bridges, George P. Petropoulos, Nicola Clerici
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/5/453
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spelling doaj-30af6ea26f5e47b0bc3132de14dd0d262020-11-25T00:52:40ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072019-05-0110545310.3390/f10050453f10050453Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, HungaryJack M. Bridges0George P. Petropoulos1Nicola Clerici2Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DB, UKDepartment of Soil & Water Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization (HAO) “Demeter” (former NAGREF), 1 Theofrastou St., 41335 Larissa, GreeceBiology Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 26 # 63B-48, Bogotá 111221, ColombiaOne of the major pedological changes produced by wildfires is the drastic modification of forest soil systems properties. To our knowledge, large research gaps are currently present concerning the effect of such fires on forest Haplic Luvisols soils in Central Europe. In this study, the effects of experimental fires on soil organic matter and chemical properties at different burning intensities in a Central European forest were examined. The study was conducted at Damak Forest, in Hungary, ecosystem dominated by deciduous broadleaf trees, including the rare Hungarian oak <i>Quercus frainetto</i> Ten. The experimental fires were carried out in nine different plots on Haplic Luvisol soils transferred from Damak Forest to the burning site. Three types of fuel load were collected from the forest: litter layer, understorey and overstorey. Groups of three plots were burned at low (litter layer), medium intensity (litter and understorey) and high intensity (litter, understorey and overstorey). Pre-fire and post-fire soil samples were taken from each plot, analysed in the laboratory and statistically compared. Key plant nutrients of organic matter, carbon, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were analysed from each sample. No significant differences in soil organic matter and carbon between pre- and post-fire samples were observed, but high intensity fires did increase soil pH significantly. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus availability increased significantly at all fire intensity levels. Soil potassium levels significantly decreased (ca. 50%) for all intensity treatments, in contrast to most literature. Potassium is a key nutrient for ion transport in plants, and any loss of this nutrient from the soil could have significant effects on local agricultural production. Overall, our findings provide evidence that support the maintaining of the current Hungarian fire prevention policy.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/5/453soil propertiesexperimental firesnutrientsUV-spectroscopy analysisthermal infrared thermometer
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jack M. Bridges
George P. Petropoulos
Nicola Clerici
spellingShingle Jack M. Bridges
George P. Petropoulos
Nicola Clerici
Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
Forests
soil properties
experimental fires
nutrients
UV-spectroscopy analysis
thermal infrared thermometer
author_facet Jack M. Bridges
George P. Petropoulos
Nicola Clerici
author_sort Jack M. Bridges
title Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
title_short Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
title_full Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
title_fullStr Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
title_full_unstemmed Immediate Changes in Organic Matter and Plant Available Nutrients of Haplic Luvisol Soils Following Different Experimental Burning Intensities in Damak Forest, Hungary
title_sort immediate changes in organic matter and plant available nutrients of haplic luvisol soils following different experimental burning intensities in damak forest, hungary
publisher MDPI AG
series Forests
issn 1999-4907
publishDate 2019-05-01
description One of the major pedological changes produced by wildfires is the drastic modification of forest soil systems properties. To our knowledge, large research gaps are currently present concerning the effect of such fires on forest Haplic Luvisols soils in Central Europe. In this study, the effects of experimental fires on soil organic matter and chemical properties at different burning intensities in a Central European forest were examined. The study was conducted at Damak Forest, in Hungary, ecosystem dominated by deciduous broadleaf trees, including the rare Hungarian oak <i>Quercus frainetto</i> Ten. The experimental fires were carried out in nine different plots on Haplic Luvisol soils transferred from Damak Forest to the burning site. Three types of fuel load were collected from the forest: litter layer, understorey and overstorey. Groups of three plots were burned at low (litter layer), medium intensity (litter and understorey) and high intensity (litter, understorey and overstorey). Pre-fire and post-fire soil samples were taken from each plot, analysed in the laboratory and statistically compared. Key plant nutrients of organic matter, carbon, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were analysed from each sample. No significant differences in soil organic matter and carbon between pre- and post-fire samples were observed, but high intensity fires did increase soil pH significantly. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus availability increased significantly at all fire intensity levels. Soil potassium levels significantly decreased (ca. 50%) for all intensity treatments, in contrast to most literature. Potassium is a key nutrient for ion transport in plants, and any loss of this nutrient from the soil could have significant effects on local agricultural production. Overall, our findings provide evidence that support the maintaining of the current Hungarian fire prevention policy.
topic soil properties
experimental fires
nutrients
UV-spectroscopy analysis
thermal infrared thermometer
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/5/453
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