Soil Science Annual (Mar 2019)

Influence of fire on selected physico-chemical properties of forest soil

  • Majder-łopatka Małgorzata,
  • Szulc Wiesław,
  • Rutkowska Beata,
  • Ptasiński Dominik,
  • Kazberuk Witold

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2478/ssa-2019-0005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 70, no. 1
pp. 39 – 43

Abstract

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The aim of the research was to determine whether, and to what extent, a surface fire of forest areas determines changes in physical and chemical properties of the soil. The test material consisted of soil samples taken from soil profiles exposed in a burnt-out area and in an area unaffected by fire. The samples were analyzed for total organic carbon and total nitrogen contents, and also selected indicators of soil acidification. As a result of the tests, it was found that there was a decrease in the levels of organic carbon (by over 75%) and nitrogen (by 50%). A negative effect of the changes was the narrowing of the C/N ratio, a positive one – an increase in soil pH (from 3.14 to 4.67), and a several-times reduction in hydrolytic and exchangeable acidity.

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