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Fire affects soil organic matter and the emergence of Pinus radiata seedlings

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Abstract

Key message

These results present great interest for the knowledge of fire effects and the regeneration capacity of the ecosystems, which is essential to minimise the long-term fire impacts.

Context

This study integrates thermal analysis of soil with tests of fire effects on Pinus radiata seeds germination and field seedling emergence in P. radiata plantations. The consequences of fire intensity P. radiata plantation regeneration can be predicted from the results.

Aims

This study aims to identify the effects of fire on soil organic matter and emergence of P. radiata seedlings in a stand in NW Spain and to test the response of seeds from two provenances of P. radiata to smoke and heat.

Methods

Burnt, unburnt and laboratory-heated samples of dry soil were analysed in a differential scanning calorimeter. Based on the comparison between heat released during the combustion of the organic matter of these samples, we estimated the fire severity. Early emergence of P. radiata seedlings was recorded in the field after fire. Finally, the effects of fire on seeds germination were tested in the laboratory.

Results

The limited loss of soil organic matter indicated that the fire had been of low severity and that the temperatures reached during the fire remained below the ignition temperatures of soil organic matter. The germination rate was high in controls and the lowest fire severities but decreased with fire intensity. The two provenances differed in their response to fire intensity. Seedling emergence was moderate and varied over time.

Conclusion

The intensity of the investigated fire remained moderate, with a limited loss of soil organic matter. It limited seedling germination and emergence. Nevertheless, despite the scarce seedling emergence observed in the field, re-establishment of the population was possible.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to D. Arán, R. Álvarez and A. Muñoz for help with the fieldwork and to editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions. Some data of this study correspond to the final year project carried out by M. del Valle. The study formed part of projects PIEGAL (10MDS200007PR) and LISVAPES (EM2013/031) financed by the Government of Galicia and the project GESFIRE (AGL2013-48189-C2-R) financed by the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Government of Spain.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15783, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Otilia Reyes & Juan García-Duro

  2. Laboratory of Thermophysical Properties of Fluids and Biomaterials, Department of Applied Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, EPS, Campus of Lugo, 27002, Lugo, Spain

    Josefa Salgado

Authors
  1. Otilia Reyes
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  2. Juan García-Duro
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  3. Josefa Salgado
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Otilia Reyes.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Eric Rigolot

Contribution of the co-authors

This work is the first result of a collaboration of researchers of two different departments of the University of Santiago de Compostela with wide experience in the study of different aspects of forest fires: Dr. Reyes, from the Fire Ecology Group of Cellular Biology and Ecology Department, has an extensive curriculum in the germinative and resprouting response of different species after fires and Dr. Salgado, from the Applied Physics Department, is a specialist in the thermal analysis techniques applied to soil study. Thus, the design of the experiments and the work supervision must be attributed to both researchers.

The tasks related with the germinative response and seedling emergence were performed by O. Reyes with the aid of J. García-Duro (PhD student) for the sampling and experimental work.

The tasks related with the soil thermal analysis were performed by J. Salgado with the aid of J. García-Duro in soil sampling, handling and laboratory preparation.

The results analysis and manuscript preparation were made by O. Reyes and J. Salgado.

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Reyes, O., García-Duro, J. & Salgado, J. Fire affects soil organic matter and the emergence of Pinus radiata seedlings. Annals of Forest Science 72, 267–275 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0427-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0427-8

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