The Effects of a Wildfire on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in an Eucalyptus urophylla Forest

Abstract:

In this study, soil pH, organic matter, total N, total P, total K, alkali-hydrolyzable N, available P, available K, number of microorganism and enzyme activity were studied in a burned E. urophylla forest (the burned forest) and an unburned adjacent E. urophylla forest (the control) in Dongyuan County, Guangdong Province, China. This study aims at investigating the effects of a single wildfire on soil properties of an E. urophylla forest to provide basis for the recovery of soil fertility and management of burned E. urophylla forests. Significant differences were observed between the burned forest and the control in most of chemical properties. The wildfire significantly decreased the soil organic matter, total N, total P, total K, alkali-hydrolyzable N and available K by 32.8%, 33.6%, 36.8%, 35.2%, 25.0% and 28.5%, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed in soil pH and available P. The numbers of bacteria and fungi in burned forest were significant lower than those of the control, while there was no difference in actinomycetes between the two forests. The urease, phosphatase and catalase activities were statistically significant lower than those of the control. The results suggested that there were significant effects on the E. urophylla forest 1 year after the wildfire and the recovery from the wildfire may take a long time.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 864-867)
• Pages: 2492-2497
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.864-867.2492
• Online since: December 2013
• Authors: Gan Wen Lie, Long Hua Ye, Hai Yong Bao, Hong Yue Chen, Li Xue*
• Keywords: Biological Properties, Chemical Properties, Soil, Wildfire

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