Effect of forest fire on mercury content in soddy podburs of typical forest-steppe environments (Voronezh region, Russia)

Abstract

The influence of forest fire on the gross mercury content in soddy podburs formed in typical forest­steppe conditions is studied. The metal concentration in the soils of the control area not affected by the fire is 0.063 ± 0.045 mg/kg at a depth of 0–10 cm, compared to 0.041 ± 0.008 mg/kg in soils of the burnt forest area. The relationship between the content of organic carbon and the amount of mercury in the top 20 cm of the soil profile of burnt areas has not been established (r = 0.26; p = 0.19). In the soils of the control plot, on the contrary, these indicators showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.74; p ≤ 0.05). The estimated amount of mercury released from the soil during a fire is 3 mg/m2 . The area of forest affected by fires in 2010 in the Voronezh Region was 15,910 ha. Thus, the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of the upper soil layer is estimated at 477.3 kg.

Keywords

• cinder
• usman forest
• soil organic carbon
• exchange cations