RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Short-term effects of different fire severities on soil properties and Pinus halepensis regeneration
A1 Romeo, Federico
A1 Marziliano, Pasquale A.
A1 Turrión Nieves, María Belén
A1 Muscolo, Adele
K1 ORGANIC-MATTER
K1 Ecophysiology
K1 Fire severity
K1 Pinus halepensis
K1 Post-fire regeneration
K1 Soil chemical properties
K1 FOREST SOILS
K1 INTENSITY
K1 REGENERATION
K1 RESTORATION
K1 TEMPERATURE
K1 RECRUITMENT
K1 DISTURBANCE
K1 WILDFIRES
AB Considering that diverse fire severities can affect soil properties differently, the aim of this study was to examine to what extent changes in soil properties caused by fire could condition seedling establishment. This new approach is for identifying a new fire cause-effect chain to qualify the impacts of fire on soils with the purpose of using fire as a tool in forest management to favourPinus halepensisMill. regeneration. The study area was a reforestedP. halepensisarea which had been crossed by fire for 78.8 ha, causing various degrees of damage. The forest was subdivided into three large areas according to the gravity of crown scorch, [low (LS), medium (MS) and high (HS) severity], on the basis of needle yellowing which usually occurs after exposure to direct flames. Results showed significant differences in soil properties with respect to fire severity. In the HS area, total nitrogen and carbon were considerably reduced while ash and phosphorus contents significantly increased. The changes in soil properties, in particular to nutrient levels, affectedP. halepensisregeneration, mainly the first year after the fire. Greater regeneration occurred in areas affected by moderate fire severity in which the temperatures reached increased the mineralization of soil organic matter with the consequent release of nutrients available for seedling growth. Additionally, moderate fire severity suppressed the regeneration of grasses, reducing the interspecific competition. Heights of seedlings were inversely proportional to the density of grasses. Where the number was abundant (LS), the height was modest; conversely, where the number was low (HS), the greater hypsometric differentiation of pine seedlings was observed. These results suggest that moderate fire severity represents an environmental stress (hormesis) altering microscale conditions to increase pine germination and establishment. The exposure ofP. halpensisto a moderate environmental factor that is damaging at higher intensities, induces an adaptive beneficial effect on seedling regeneration. This data can re-evaluate the assertion that coniferous burned areas, if left unmanaged, would remain unproductive for an indefinite period.
PB Springer
SN 1007-662X
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/73246
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/73246
LA eng
NO Journal of Forestry Research, August 2020, 31, 4, 1271-1282
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 04-abr-2025