The Effect of Microbial Degradation on the Combustibility and Potential Fire Behaviour of <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> Needles

Abstract

Flammable litter such as Pinus koraiensis needle accumulation increases the risk of wildfire. In the event of a high-intensity fire, forest resources can be severely damaged. To reduce the occurrence of forest fires, it is important to reduce loads and modify structures. This study conducted 270 indoor degradation experiments to determine physicochemical properties of Pinus koraiensis during the combustion degradation process. Combustion degradation treatment variables were constructed with different durations, Trichoderma fungi, and doses. The results show that the physicochemical properties of flammable litter changed significantly after degradation, with a maximum degradation rate of 11. The degradation rate was affected by time and microbial agents, but there was no significant difference between different doses. Principal component analysis was used to determine overall combustibility, and it was found that a dose of 4 mL of Trichoderma harzianum had the best effect on degradation for 42 days, reducing combustibility by 203%. It was found that the 6ml composite mould had the best inhibitory effect on fire spread rate, reaching the lowest value. After 42 days, the flame intensity of 4 mL Trichoderma harzianum reached its lowest value of 57.17 kw/m, which represents a decrease of 54% compared to the initial value. Similarly, the flame’s length reached its lowest value of 4.91 cm, which represents a decrease of 31% compared to the same period last year. The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between time, microbial agents, dosage, flammable physical and chemical properties, overall flammability, and potential fire behaviour. The values of the goodness-of-fit index and the comparative fit index are both >0.98, and the values of the standardised root mean square residual and the approximate root mean square error are both <0.05. This study has a positive effect on accelerating the decomposition of combustibles, reducing the content of flammable components, reducing flammability and potential fire behaviour, and reducing the risk of forest fires. It is of great significance for strengthening natural resource management and forest ecological conservation.

Keywords

• microbial degradation
• <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> needle
• physicochemical properties
• combustibility
• potential fire behaviour