Abstract
Mediterranean regions are the most impacted by fire in Europe. The effects of fire on soil greatly vary according to several factors such as vegetation cover type, but they are scarcely studied. Therefore, this research aimed at evaluating the combined impacts of fire and vegetation on single soil characteristics and on the overall soil quality and functionality through two soil quality indices, simple additive (SQI) and a weighted function (SQIFUNCT). In order to reach the aims, burnt and unburnt soils were collected under different vegetation cover types (herbs and shrubs, black locust, pine and holm oak) within the Vesuvius National Park. The soils were analyzed for the main abiotic (water and organic matter content, total C, N, Ca, K, Cu and Pb concentrations, C/N ratio) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration, β-glucosidase activity) characteristics. On the basis of the investigated soil characteristics, several soil functions (water retention, nutrient supply, contamination content, microorganism habitat and activities), and the soil quality indices were calculated. The results showed that the impact of fire on soil quality and functionality was mediated by the vegetation cover type. In fact, fire occurrence led to a decrease in water and C/N ratio under herbs, a decrease in C concentration under holm oak and a decrease in Cu and Pb concentrations under pine. Although the soil characteristics showed significant changes according to vegetation cover types and fire occurrence, both the additive and weighted function soil quality indices did not significantly vary according to both fire occurrence and the vegetation cover type. Among the different vegetation cover types, pine was the most impacted one.
Highlights
IntroductionWildfires have burnt an average of about 4500 km in the Mediterranean regions of Europe
Over the last decades, wildfires have burnt an average of about 4500 km2 in the Mediterranean regions of Europe
The impact of fire on soil quality and functionality was mediated by the vegetation cover type
Summary
Wildfires have burnt an average of about 4500 km in the Mediterranean regions of Europe. Wildfires were severe in 2017, a year characterized by an intense heatwave coupled with a severe drought. Fires were severe in southern Europe, causing extensive economic and ecological damages (i.e., biodiversity loss, carbon sequestration and raw material provisioning) and human casualties [1,2].
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More From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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