Fire enhances changes in phosphorus (P) dynamics determining potential post-fire soil recovery in Mediterranean woodlands.

ABSTRACT: Soil phosphorus (P), which is essential for ecosystem functioning, undergoes notable changes after fire. However, the extent to which fire characteristics affect P dynamics remains largely unknown. This study investigated the impact of type of fire (prescribed burning and natural wildfires) of different levels of severity on P dynamics in Mediterranean soils. Soil P concentrations in the organic layers were strongly affected by fire severity but not fire type. Low severity fire did not have any observable effect, while moderate fire increased soil P levels by 62% and high severity decreased soil P concentration by 19%. After one year, the soil P concentration remained unchanged in the low severity fires, while rather complex recovery was observed after moderate and high severity fires. In

SUBMITTER: Souza-Alonso P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11408694 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature