Changes in Soil Nutrients Following Burning Burning of Dry Tropical Savanna

Abstract

The effects of fire in dry tropical savanna ecosystems on plant available nutrients (nitrate-N, ammonium-N and phosphate - P); N - mineralization rate; soil microbial biomass C, N and P; canopy biomass and root biomass were studied during selected months. Parameters studied were the vegetative, reproductive, flowering and fruiting, fruitfall, early senescence and late senescence. The values of nitrate-N, ammonium-N and phosphate - P, N- mineralization and nitrification rate; microbial C, N and P, canopy biomass and root biomass indicated significant difference due to month and treatment, but were not significant due to year. Following fire, the increase in the build up of microbial biomass in the dry season and canopy growth and N-mineralization rate in the wet season are nutrient conserving mechanisms that prevent nutrient loss. Therefore fire can be a management tool for better productivity and nutritive quality in dry tropical environments.