Effects of a low severity prescribed fire on water-soluble elements in ash from a cork oak (Quercus suber) forest located in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula |
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| Authors: | Paulo Pereira,Xavier Ú beda,Deborah Martin,Jorge Mataix-Solera,Cé sar Guerrero |
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| Affiliation: | aGRAM (Mediterranean Environment Research Group), Department of Physical Geography and Regional Geographic Analysis, University of Barcelona C/ Montalegre, 6, 0800 Catalunya, Spain;bDepartment of Environmental Policy and Management, Mykolas Romeris University, Ateites st, 20, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania;cDepartment of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gedminas Technical University, Saul?tekio al. 11, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania;dU.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street (E146), Boulder, CO 80303-1066, USA;eEnvironmental Soil Science Group, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. del Ferrocarril s/n 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Wildfire is the major disturbance in Mediterranean forests. Prescribed fire can be an alternative to reduce the amount of fuel and hence decrease the wildfire risk. However the effects of prescribed fire must be studied, especially on ash properties, because ash is an important nutrient source for ecosystem recovery. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a low severity prescribed fire on water-soluble elements in ash including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), silica (SiO2) and total sulphur (TS). A prescribed fire was conducted in a cork oak (Quercus suber) (Q.S) forest located in the northeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Samples were collected from a flat plot of 40×70 m mainly composed of Q.S and Quercus robur (Q.R) trees. In order to understand the effects of the prescribed fire on the soluble elements in ash, we conducted our data analysis on three data groups: all samples, only Q.S samples and only Q.R samples. All three sample groups exhibited a significant increase in pH, EC (p<0.001), water-soluble Ca, Mg, Na, SiO2 and TS and a decrease in water-soluble Mn, Fe and Zn. Differences were identified between oak species for water-soluble K, Al and Fe. In Q.S samples we registered a significant increase in the first two elements p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively, and a non-significant impact in the third, at p<0.05. In Q.R data we identified a non-significant impact on water-soluble K and Al and a significant decrease in water-soluble Fe (p<0.05). These differences are probably due to vegetation characteristics and burn severity. The fire induced a higher variability in the ash soluble elements, especially in Q.S samples, that at some points burned with higher severity. The increase of pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Na and K will improve soil fertility, mainly in the study area where soils are acidic. The application of this low severity prescribed fire will improve soil nutrient status without causing soil degradation and thus is considered to be a good management strategy. |
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| Keywords: | Prescribed fire Ash Quercus suber Iberian Peninsula Quercus robur |
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