Reduction of nutrient losses with eroded sediments by post-fire soil stabilisation techniques
M. X. Gómez-Rey A C , A. Couto-Vázquez A , S. García-Marco A , J. A. Vega B and S. J. González-Prieto A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiológicas de Galicia (CSIC), Apartado 122, E-15780 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
B Centro de Investigación Forestal de Lourizán, Consellería de Medio Rural e do Mar, Apartado 127, E-36080 Pontevedra, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: mxgomez@iiag.csic.es
International Journal of Wildland Fire 22(5) 696-706 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12079
Submitted: 21 May 2012 Accepted: 13 November 2012 Published: 15 February 2013
Abstract
After an experimental fire in steep shrubland in a temperate–humid region (north-west Spain), the effects of two post-fire stabilisation treatments (grass seeding and straw mulching) on the chemical properties of eroded sediments, and the amount of nutrients lost with them, were evaluated relative to control burnt soil, over a period of 13 months. Total C and N concentrations, and δ13C, indicated that sediments were mainly contributed by charred plant and litter material. The highest concentrations of extractable base cations in the sediments occurred during the first 3 months following fire, especially for Na and K. As treatments had little or no effect on nutrient concentration in sediments, differences in nutrient losses were due to the 10-fold lower sediment production in mulching compared with other treatments. In control and seeding treatments, the accumulated amounts of nutrients lost with sediments were 989–1028 kg ha–1 (C), 77 kg ha–1 (N), 1.9–2.4 kg ha–1 (Ca), 0.9–1.1 kg ha–1 (Mg), 0.48–0.55 kg ha–1 (NH4+–N), 0.39–0.56 kg ha–1 (K), 0.19–0.34 kg ha–1 (Na) and <0.1 kg ha–1 (P and NO3––N). These values accounted for 22–25% (total C and N) and 5–12% (NH4+–N, Ca, P and Mg) of available nutrients in ash, and 1.0–2.4% of those in ash+topsoil. As nutrient and sediment losses were strongly correlated, the reduction of the latter by mulching application leads to an effective decrease of post-fire nutrient losses.
Additional keywords: burnt area emergency response, δ13C, δ15N, experimental fire, mulching, seeding, shrubland.
References
Andreu V, Rubio JL, Forteza J, Cerni R (1996) Postfire effects on soil properties and nutrient losses. International Journal of Wildland Fire 6, 53–58.| Postfire effects on soil properties and nutrient losses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baird M, Zabowski D, Everett RL (1999) Wildfire effects on carbon and nitrogen in inland coniferous forests. Plant and Soil 209, 233–243.
| Wildfire effects on carbon and nitrogen in inland coniferous forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXlt1emsrc%3D&md5=4f98b0f014e5c4740d4575c33ccb6b84CAS |
Bautista S, Robichaud PR, Bladé C (2009) Post-fire mulching. In ‘Fire Effects on Soils and Restoration Strategies’. (Ed. A Cerdà, PR Robichaud) pp. 353–372. (Science Publishers: Enfield, NH)
Beyers JL (2004) Postfire seeding for erosion control: effectiveness and impacts on native plant communities. Conservation Biology 18, 947–956.
| Postfire seeding for erosion control: effectiveness and impacts on native plant communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Birot Y (Ed.) (2009) Living with wildfires: what science can tell us. European Forest Institute, Discussion Paper 15. (Joensuu, Finland)
Busse MD (1994) Downed bole-wood decomposition in lodgepole pine forests of central Oregon. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 221–227.
| Downed bole-wood decomposition in lodgepole pine forests of central Oregon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carreira JA, Niell FX (1995) Mobilization of nutrients by fire in a semiarid gorse-scrubland ecosystem of Southern Spain. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation 9, 73–89.
| Mobilization of nutrients by fire in a semiarid gorse-scrubland ecosystem of Southern Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cerdà A, Lasanta T (2005) Long-term erosional responses after fire in the Central Spanish Pyrenees – 1. Water and sediment yield. Catena 60, 59–80.
| Long-term erosional responses after fire in the Central Spanish Pyrenees – 1. Water and sediment yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Certini G (2005) Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review. Oecologia 143, 1–10.
| Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Koff JP, Graham RC, Hubbert KR, Wohlgemuth PM (2006) Prefire and postfire erosion of soil nutrients within a chaparral watershed. Soil Science 171, 915–928.
| Prefire and postfire erosion of soil nutrients within a chaparral watershed.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtlWlsL3E&md5=4df0ce868f926ed628f398b949797cd3CAS |
Debano LF, Conrad CE (1978) The effect of fire on nutrients in a chaparral ecosystem. Ecology 59, 489–497.
| The effect of fire on nutrients in a chaparral ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXmtFCis7s%3D&md5=e97411740f7b7721e947907b7b141fddCAS |
DeBano LF, Neary D, Ffolliott PF (Eds) (1998) ‘Fires effects on ecosystems’. (Wiley: New York)
Diaz-Fierros F, Benito Rueda E, Perez Moreira R (1987) Evaluation of the U.S.L.E. for the prediction of erosion in burnt forest areas in Galici (NW Spain). Catena 14, 189–199.
| Evaluation of the U.S.L.E. for the prediction of erosion in burnt forest areas in Galici (NW Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Díaz-Raviña M, Martín A, Barreiro A, Lombao A, Iglesias L, Díaz-Fierros F, Carballas T (2012) Mulching and seeding treatments for post-fire soil stabilisation in NW Spain: short-term effects and effectiveness. Geoderma 191, 31–39.
| Mulching and seeding treatments for post-fire soil stabilisation in NW Spain: short-term effects and effectiveness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Emmerich WE (1999) Nutrient dynamics of rangeland burns in Southeastern Arizona. Journal of Range Management 52, 606–614.
| Nutrient dynamics of rangeland burns in Southeastern Arizona.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Feller MC (1988) Relationships between fuel properties and slashburning-induced nutrient losses. Forest Science 34, 998–1015.
Fernández C, Vega JA, Jiménez E, Fonturbel T (2011) Effectiveness of three post-fire treatments at reducing soil erosion in Galicia (NW Spain). International Journal of Wildland Fire 20, 104–114.
| Effectiveness of three post-fire treatments at reducing soil erosion in Galicia (NW Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fernández C, Vega JA, Jiménez E, Vieira DCS, Merino A, Ferreiro A, Fonturbel T (2012) Seeding and mulching+seeding effects on post-fire runoff, soil erosion and species diversity in Galicia (NW Spain). Land Degradation & Development 23, 150–156.
| Seeding and mulching+seeding effects on post-fire runoff, soil erosion and species diversity in Galicia (NW Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fontúrbel MT, Barreiro A, Vega JA, Martín A, Jiménez E, Carballas T, Fernández C, Díaz-Raviña M (2012) Effects of an experimental fire and post-fire stabilization treatments on soil microbial communities. Geoderma 191, 51–60.
| Effects of an experimental fire and post-fire stabilization treatments on soil microbial communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gabet EJ, Fierer N, Chadwick OA (2005) Prediction of sediment-bound nutrient delivery from semi-arid California watersheds. Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences 110, G02001
| Prediction of sediment-bound nutrient delivery from semi-arid California watersheds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gimeno-Garcia E, Andreu V, Rubio JL (2000) Changes in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and cations in soil as a result of fire and water erosion in a Mediterranean landscape. European Journal of Soil Science 51, 201–210.
| Changes in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and cations in soil as a result of fire and water erosion in a Mediterranean landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grier CC (1975) Wildfire effects on nutrient distribution and leaching in a coniferous ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Forestry 5, 599–607.
| Wildfire effects on nutrient distribution and leaching in a coniferous ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE28Xhslyrurw%3D&md5=70ca4de8b1c0202d2ae0fd1aba98486bCAS |
Groen AH, Woods SW (2008) Effectiveness of aerial seeding and straw mulch for reducing post-wildfire erosion, north-western Montana, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, 559–571.
| Effectiveness of aerial seeding and straw mulch for reducing post-wildfire erosion, north-western Montana, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Helvey JD, Tiedemann AR, Anderson TD (1985) Plant nutrient losses by soil-erosion and mass movement after wildfire. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 40, 168–173.
Khan SA, Mulvaney RL, Mulvaney CS (1997) Accelerated diffusion methods for inorganic-nitrogen analysis of soil extracts and water. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61, 936–942.
| Accelerated diffusion methods for inorganic-nitrogen analysis of soil extracts and water.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjvVOqsb8%3D&md5=f98232964074a23394126d832781221eCAS |
Khanna PK, Raison RJ, Falkiner RA (1994) Chemical properties of ash derived from eucalyptus litter and its effects on forest soils. Forest Ecology and Management 66, 107–125.
| Chemical properties of ash derived from eucalyptus litter and its effects on forest soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kruse R, Bend E, Bierzychudek P (2004) Native plant regeneration and introduction of non-natives following post-fire rehabilitation with straw mulch and barley seeding. Forest Ecology and Management 196, 299–310.
| Native plant regeneration and introduction of non-natives following post-fire rehabilitation with straw mulch and barley seeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lane PNJ, Sheridan GJ, Noske PJ, Sherwin CB (2008) Phosphorus and nitrogen exports from SE Australian forests following wildfire. Journal of Hydrology 361, 186–198.
| Phosphorus and nitrogen exports from SE Australian forests following wildfire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXht1ShsLfO&md5=9b3d0d6d685f3a7ab3d6a45f458bb2e9CAS |
Martin DA, Moody JA (2001) Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds. Hydrological Processes 15, 2893–2903.
| Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Means JE, MacMillian PC, Cromack JK (1992) Biomass and nutrient content of Douglas-fir logs and other detrital pools in an old-growth forest, Oregon USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22, 1536–1546.
| Biomass and nutrient content of Douglas-fir logs and other detrital pools in an old-growth forest, Oregon USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhsVKktbk%3D&md5=4980612d36a5896810acbc42185ff771CAS |
Moody JA, Martin DA (2009) Synthesis of sediment yields after wildland fire in different rainfall regimes in the western United States. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 96–115.
| Synthesis of sediment yields after wildland fire in different rainfall regimes in the western United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peppin D, Fulé PZ, Sieg CH, Beyers JL, Hunter ME (2010) Post-wildfire seeding in forests of the western United States: an evidence-based review. Forest Ecology and Management 260, 573–586.
| Post-wildfire seeding in forests of the western United States: an evidence-based review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinaya I, Soto B, Arias M, Díaz-Fierros F (2000) Revegetation of burnt areas: relative effectiveness of native and commercial seed mixtures. Land Degradation & Development 11, 93–98.
| Revegetation of burnt areas: relative effectiveness of native and commercial seed mixtures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robichaud PR (2009) Post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation. In ‘Fire effects on soils and restoration strategies.’ (Ed. A Cerdà, PR Robichaud) pp. 299–320. (Science Publishers: Enfield, NH)
Robichaud PR, Brown RE (1999) What happened after the smoke cleared: Onsite erosion rates after a wildfire in Eastern Oregon. In ‘Wildland Hydrology Conference. ‘ (Eds DS Olsen, JP Potyondy) pp. 419–426. (American Water Resources Association: Bozeman, MT)
Robichaud PR, Brown RE (2002) Silt fences: an economical technique for measuring hillslope soil erosion. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-94. (Fort Collins, CO)
Robichaud PR, Beyers JL, Neary DG (2000) Evaluating the effectiveness of postfire rehabilitation treatments. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-63. (Fort Collins, CO)
Robichaud PR, Lillybridge TR, Wagenbrenner JW (2006) Effects of postfire seeding and fertilizing on hillslope erosion in north-central Washington, USA. Catena 67, 56–67.
| Effects of postfire seeding and fertilizing on hillslope erosion in north-central Washington, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robichaud PR, Ashmun LE, Sims BD (2010) Post-fire treatment effectiveness for hillslope stabilization. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-240. (Fort Collins, CO)
Saá A, Trasar-Cepeda MC, Soto B, Gil-Sotres F, Diaz-Fierros F (1994) Forms of phosphorus in sediments eroded from burnt soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 23, 739–746.
| Forms of phosphorus in sediments eroded from burnt soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shakesby RA, Coelho COA, Ferreira AJD, Walsh RPD (2002) Ground-level changes after wildfire and ploughing in eucalyptus and pine forests, Portugal: implications for soil microtopographical development and soil longevity. Land Degradation & Development 13, 111–127.
| Ground-level changes after wildfire and ploughing in eucalyptus and pine forests, Portugal: implications for soil microtopographical development and soil longevity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith HG, Sheridan GJ, Lane PNJ, Nyman P, Haydon S (2011) Wildfire effects on water quality in forest catchments: a review with implications for water supply. Journal of Hydrology 396, 170–192.
| Wildfire effects on water quality in forest catchments: a review with implications for water supply.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhsF2htbnK&md5=5303a6a88a0f64f5c0c461f9b1737808CAS |
Soto B, Basanta R, Diaz-Fierros F (1997) Effects of burning on nutrient balance in an area of gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) scrub. The Science of the Total Environment 204, 271–281.
| Effects of burning on nutrient balance in an area of gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) scrub.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spigel KM, Robichaud PR (2007) First-year post-fire erosion rates in Bitterroot National Forest, Montana. Hydrological Processes 21, 998–1005.
| First-year post-fire erosion rates in Bitterroot National Forest, Montana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXlsVSqtLk%3D&md5=10f857ad0bd15b653bc258400e85c414CAS |
Stephens SL, Meixner T, Poth M, McGurk B, Payne D (2004) Prescribed fire, soils, and stream water chemistry in a watershed in the Lake Tahoe Basin, California. International Journal of Wildland Fire 13, 27–35.
| Prescribed fire, soils, and stream water chemistry in a watershed in the Lake Tahoe Basin, California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjtVWmsLo%3D&md5=70adf0a3f91e503f2aa595b120e75d1eCAS |
Thomas AD, Walsh RPD, Shakesby RA (1999) Nutrient losses in eroded sediment after fire in eucalyptus and pine forests in the wet Mediterranean environment of northern Portugal. Catena 36, 283–302.
| Nutrient losses in eroded sediment after fire in eucalyptus and pine forests in the wet Mediterranean environment of northern Portugal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas AD, Walsh RPD, Shakesby RA (2000) Post-fire forestry management and nutrient losses in eucalyptus and pine plantations, northern Portugal. Land Degradation & Development 11, 257–271.
| Post-fire forestry management and nutrient losses in eucalyptus and pine plantations, northern Portugal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vega JA, Fernandez C, Fonturbel T (2005) Throughfall, runoff and soil erosion after prescribed burning in gorse shrubland in Galicia (NW Spain). Land Degradation & Development 16, 37–51.
| Throughfall, runoff and soil erosion after prescribed burning in gorse shrubland in Galicia (NW Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vega JA, Fernández C, Fontúrbel T, Jiménez E, Díaz-Raviña M, Martín A, Carballas T (2010) Comparación de tratamientos de mulching y siembra de herbáceas para control de erosión tras un fuego experimental en matorral en Galicia. In ‘International workshop Fuegored 2010. Research and Post-fire Management: Soil Protection and Rehabilitation Techniques for Burnt Forest Ecosystems’. pp. 297–300 (FUEGORED: Santiago de Compostela, Spain). Available at http://www.iiag.csic.es/fuegored/libro.pdf [Verified 18 December 2012]
Wagenbrenner JW, MacDonald LH, Rough D (2006) Effectiveness of three post-fire rehabilitation treatments in the Colorado Front Range. Hydrological Processes 20, 2989–3006.
| Effectiveness of three post-fire rehabilitation treatments in the Colorado Front Range.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
