Prescribed fire effects on soil organic carbon and biological properties

What is it about?

This work studies the effects on soil of prescribed burning for pasture restoration in encroached shrublands in a subalpine environment (Central Pyrenees, NE-Spain). Soil organic carbon content and biological properties were studied in three sites burned in autumn with different ignition techniques, seasonally monitoring the evolution of soil up to 1-2 years after fire.

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Why is it important?

It shows the importance of the ignition technique and environmental conditions on the effects that prescribed burning might have on soil: when fire spread rapidly, soil properties were not affected, whereas slow prescribed burning severely affected the topsoil. It provides detailed analysis of soil organic C and biological properties over time at 0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 cm depth. Results show that the reduction in soil biological activity and the incorporation of ashes and charred plant remains led to an increase in the soil organic C stocks of the burned soils.