Journal
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
Volume 48, Issue 5, Pages 569-577Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00374-011-0657-y
Keywords
Surface fire; Charcoal; P availability; Cool-temperate forest; Field manipulation
Categories
Funding
- JSPS [2025500208, 192105, 20380083]
- Research Foundation from JAFTA [12th-H20]
- Forest Research Station of Field Science Center of Northern Biosphere of Hokkaido University [TEF07]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [20380083, 21114008, 20248033, 10J03383] Funding Source: KAKEN
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Ecological function of charcoal has been mainly investigated by adding charcoal to soil, which is not fully adequate to understand in situ the role in fire-prone forest ecosystem. To determine in situ effects of charcoal on ecosystem functions, such as nutrient availability, we conducted an experimental burning in a Japanese white birch forest with dense coverage of dwarf bamboo in the understory with or without removal of charcoal. Ammonium-N in the remaining humus layer increased immediately after the burning, but decreased to the level of unburnt plots within 1 month of the burning. Removal of charcoal had no significant effect on the NH4 (+)-N dynamics. Although burning did not affect NO3 (-)-N dynamics during the sampling period, charcoal removal led to a slight increase in NO3 (-)-N. The available P increased immediately after the burning, but then fell at 1 month after burning. Charcoal inhibited the available P depletion and prolonged the high availability of P. Greater availability of P might be due to the adsorption of phosphate in charcoal pores. Exchangeable Ca and Mg increased gradually; charcoal appeared to extend the period of higher concentration of exchangeable Ca and Mg. Charcoal deriving from fire is a key factor in influencing available nutrient in the humus layer of post-fire forests.
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