Wildfire effects on extractable elements in ash from a Pinus pinaster forest in Portugal. Issue 11 (21st June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pereira, Paulo; Úbeda, Xavier; Martin, Deborah; Mataix‐Solera, Jorge; Cerdà, Artemi; Burguet, Maria
• Is Part Of: Hydrological processes. Volume 28:Issue 11(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 3681
• Page End: 3690
• Publication Date: 2013-06-21
• Subjects: Hydrology -- Periodicals; Hydrology -- Research -- Periodicals; Hydrologic models -- Periodicals; Hydrological forecasting -- Periodicals; 631.432
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.9907
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6087

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The aim of this work is to study the effects of a wildfire on water‐extractable elements in ash from a <italic>Pinus pinaster</italic> forest located in Portugal. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), sodium and potassium adsorption ratio (SPAR), aluminium (Al³⁺), manganese (Mn²⁺), iron (Fe²⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), sulphur (S), silica (Si) and phosphorous (P) were analysed in ash sampled from a sloped area burned in a wildfire and from litter from a contiguous unburned area, with similar morphological conditions. The results showed that ash leachates had higher pH and EC, and were significantly richer in water‐extractable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SPAR, S and Si and significantly poorer in water‐extractable Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ than litter solutions. No significant differences were observed in water‐extractable P. The fire changed the ash solute chemistry compared with the unburned litter and increased the sample variability of nutrient distribution with potential implications for plant recovery. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>