Abstract
The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological response was evaluated by the Integrative Biological Responses (IBR) index. Before the fire, organic matter and N contents were significantly higher in P than H soils. After the fire, significant increases of pH, organic matter, C/N ratio, microbial biomass and respiration, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities were observed in all the soils, especially under HO. In conclusion, the post-fire soil conditions were less favorable for microorganisms, as the IBR index decreased when compared to the pre-fire conditions.
Highlights
The above-ground and below-ground interactions play a fundamental role in controlling terrestrial ecosystem processes and properties
Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by a wide heterogeneity of vegetation ranging from pine and holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) forests to shrublands and grasslands, Int
PH was weakly alkaline (Figure 1) in both soils collected under pines (P) and herbaceous species (H); water content (WC) was, on average, 46.2% d.w. in P soils, and 34.2% d.w. in H soils (Figure 1); organic matter (OM) content and N concentrations were statistically higher in P (OM: 18.7% d.w. and N: 0.61% d.w) than in H
Summary
The above-ground and below-ground interactions play a fundamental role in controlling terrestrial ecosystem processes and properties. Though plants provide the food resources for the decomposer and for the root-associated organisms, decomposers regulate nutrient availabilities by dead plant material degradation [1]. A fundamental role in regulating nutrient supply is played by the soil chemical, biochemical, and physico-chemical properties [2]. Due to the intimate interactions, specific relationships occur among dominant plant species and soil microbial components in terrestrial ecosystems [3,4]. A great part of the variation in soil microbial communities is explained by plant community composition and soil chemistry [5], but little is known about the links between below-ground and above-ground components [6].
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