<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Wildfires affect different physical, chemical, and hydraulic soil properties, and the magnitude of their effects varies depending on intrinsic soil properties and wildfire characteristics. The objectives of this study are: to estimate the impact of heating temperature (50–900°C) on the properties of sandy soil (Arenosol) taken in 1) coniferous forests (Scots pine <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic>) of different ages (30 and 100 years); and 2) coniferous (Scots pine <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic>) and deciduous (alder <italic>Alnus glutinosa</italic>) forests of the same age (30 years). The forests are located in the central part of the Borská nížina lowland (western Slovakia), and the properties treated were soil organic carbon content (SOC), pH, and soil water repellency (measured in terms of water drop penetration time, WDPT). It was found that the impact of heating temperature on the properties of sandy soil is great and depends on both the age and type of forest. The SOC value decreased unevenly with temperature in all three soils, and it was higher in the 30-year-old deciduous forest soil than in the 30-year-old coniferous forest soil. The value of pH increased monotonously with temperature from 200 °C, and it was higher in 30-year-old coniferous forest soil than in the 100-year-old coniferous forest soil. SOC and WDPT in the 100-year-old coniferous forest soil were higher than SOC and WDPT in the 30-year-old coniferous forest soil. Results obtained (decrease in SOC, disappearance of SWR after heating to 400 °C, and increase in pH from heating temperature 200 °C) bring important information for post-fire vegetation restoration and post-fire management of Central European forests established on sandy soil.</p>
</abstract>

Wildfires affect different physical, chemical, and hydraulic soil properties, and the magnitude of their effects varies depending on intrinsic soil properties and wildfire characteristics. The objectives of this study are: to estimate the impact of heating temperature (50–900°C) on the properties of sandy soil (Arenosol) taken in 1) coniferous forests (Scots pine Pinus sylvestris) of different ages (30 and 100 years); and 2) coniferous (Scots pine Pinus sylvestris) and deciduous (alder Alnus glutinosa) forests of the same age (30 years). The forests are located in the central part of the Borská nížina lowland (western Slovakia), and the properties treated were soil organic carbon content (SOC), pH, and soil water repellency (measured in terms of water drop penetration time, WDPT). It was found that the impact of heating temperature on the properties of sandy soil is great and depends on both the age and type of forest. The SOC value decreased unevenly with temperature in all three soils, and it was higher in the 30-year-old deciduous forest soil than in the 30-year-old coniferous forest soil. The value of pH increased monotonously with temperature from 200 °C, and it was higher in 30-year-old coniferous forest soil than in the 100-year-old coniferous forest soil. SOC and WDPT in the 100-year-old coniferous forest soil were higher than SOC and WDPT in the 30-year-old coniferous forest soil. Results obtained (decrease in SOC, disappearance of SWR after heating to 400 °C, and increase in pH from heating temperature 200 °C) bring important information for post-fire vegetation restoration and post-fire management of Central European forests established on sandy soil.

Fire-induced changes in soil properties depend on age and type of forests

Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Fire-induced changes in soil properties depend on age and type of forests"}

Wildfires affect different physical, chemical, and hydraulic soil properties, and the magnitude of their effects varies depending on intrinsic soil properties...

Fire-induced changes in soil properties depend on age and type of forests

Published Online: Nov 16, 2022

Page range: 442 - 449

Received: Aug 01, 2022

Accepted: Oct 18, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2022-0034

Keywords
Sandy soil, Soil water repellency, Soil heating, Soil organic carbon, pH, Water drop penetration time

© 2022 Slavomír Hološ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fire-induced changes in soil properties depend on age and type of forests

Published Online: Nov 16, 2022

Page range: 442 - 449

Received: Aug 01, 2022

Accepted: Oct 18, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2022-0034

KeywordsSandy soil, Soil water repellency, Soil heating, Soil organic carbon, pH, Water drop penetration time

© 2022 Slavomír Hološ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Sandy soil, Soil water repellency, Soil heating, Soil organic carbon, pH, Water drop penetration time