Abstract
Burning of vegetation can promote changes in soil physical properties and also create hydrophobic substances, which accumulate and result in the formation of water-repellent layers. A study was conducted between 2005 and 2011 on an Albaqualf, with natural grassland composed mainly of Andropogon lateralis, in southern Brazil, to investigate the induction of hydrophobicity by burning and changes in the soil hydro-physical characteristics. The treatments consisted of no burning, and burned 60, 36, 12, 6, 4, and 2 months before sampling. Burning management did not change the saturated hydraulic conductivity, whereas air permeability was significantly reduced in the surface layer, nearly reaching the original values 4 months after burning. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability correlated with total porosity and macroporosity. The surface layer was the most sensitive to fire effects, with an increased degree of hydrophobicity for up to 2 months after vegetation burning. Hydrophobicity and contact angle correlated positively with soil organic matter content.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
