The Effects of Forest Fire on Soil Organic Matter and Nutrients in Boreal Forests of North America: A Review

Abstract

Fire is the primary disturbance process affecting the structures and ecosystem functions of a forest by altering the carbon balance and nutrient dynamics of forest soils. A great deal of research indicates that frequency, severity, duration of forest fire will increase especially in boreal forest region with the increase in temperature and severe droughts resulting from climate change. However, with the large area and abundant biodiversity, boreal forest plays a vital role in mitigating climate change and acting as a carbon pool. Therefore, if the boreal forest is damaged by fires, it will incur a catastrophe on the ecosystem and the climate. With increasing risk of future fire activities, it is extremely important to understand the dynamic changes of soil resources as affected by fires which can give a crucial information on sustainable and adaptive management practices of forests and soils, as well as determine the resilience of forest soils to mitigate current climate change. In this paper, we review the main fire regimes and characteristics of boreal forests in North America and the dynamics of organic matter and nutrients in forest soils over short and long-term after fire. This work aims at providing useful knowledge on soil resource dynamics under fire disturbance which will further promote the adaptive management of forest soils.