Abstract
The effect of soil burning on N and P availability and on mineralization and nitrification rates of N in the burned mineral soil was studied by combustion of soils in the laboratory.
At a fire temperature of 600°C, there was a complete volatilization of NH4 and a significant increase of pH, from 7.6 in the unburned soil to 11.7 in the burned soil. Under such conditions ammonification and nitrification reactions were inhibited. Less available P was produced immediately after the fire at 600°C, as compared to P amount produced at 250°C. Burning the soils with plants caused a decrease in NH4-N and (NO2+NO3)-N concentrations in the soil as well as a reduction in ammonification and nitrification rates. Combustion of soil with plants contributed additional available P to the burned soil.
The existence of a non-burned soil under the burned one played an important role in triggering ammonification and nitrification reactions.
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Kutiel, P., Shaviv, A. Effect of simulated forest fire on the availability of N and P in mediterranean soils. Plant Soil 120, 57–63 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370290
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370290