Journal of Environmental Biology

Soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed burning

in young corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) stands

 

Aydin Tufekcioglu*¹, Mehmet Kucuk¹,? Bulent Saglam¹, Ertugrul Bilgili² and^? Lokman Altun²

 

¹Artvin Coruh University, Faculty of Forestry, 08000, Artvin, Turkey

²Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, 61040, Trabzon, Turkey

(Received: September 05, 2008; Revised received: November 15, 2008; Accepted: January 22, 2009)

 

Abstract: Fire is an important tool in the management of forest ecosystems. Although both prescribed and wildland fires are common in Turkey, few studies have addressed the influence of such disturbances on soil properties and root biomass dynamics. In this study, soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed fire were investigated in 25-year-old corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) stands in Kastamonu, Turkey. The stands were established by planting and were subjected to prescribed burning in July, 2003. Soil respiration rates were determined every two months using soda-lime method over a two- year period. Fine (0-2 mm diameter) and small root (2-5 mm diameter) biomass were sampled approximately bimonthly using sequential coring method. Mean daily soil respiration ranged from 0.65 to 2.19 g C m^-2 d^-1 among all sites. Soil respiration rates were significantly higher in burned sites than in controls. Soil respiration rates were correlated significantly with soil moisture and soil temperature. Fine root biomass was significantly lower in burned sites than in control sites. Mean fine root biomass values were 4940 kg ha^-1 for burned and 5450 kg ha^-1 for control sites. Soil pH was significantly higher in burned sites than in control sites in 15-35 cm soil depth. Soil organic matter content did not differ significantly between control and burned sites. Our results indicate that, depending on site conditions, fire could be used successfully as a tool in the management of forest stands in the study area.

Key words: Forest fire, Root biomass, Soil respiration, Soil properties

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