Effects of fire and vegetation types on soil temperature and chemistry at Chihsing Mountain, Taiwan
Journal
Taiwan Journal of Forest Science
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
1
Pages
43-54
Date Issued
2003
Author(s)
Abstract
A grassland (Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb) at Chihsing Mountain, northern Taiwan, was burned in July 2001. Soil temperature at 5-cm depth of burned (burned grassland) and undisturbed (grassland and natural forest) sites was monitored. Soil chemical properties of the burned grassland, grassland, natural forest, and dwarf-bamboo (Pseudosassa usawai) sites were analyzed to reveal the effects of fire and vegetation types on soil chemistry. The variation of daily temperature in soil of the burned grassland was 6°C, which was 4.5°C higher than that under a natural forest. However, this phenomenon disappeared within 4 mon due to fast regeneration of the grass. Increases in concentrations of nutrients arising from the additions of fine ash at the burned grassland were not observed in this study. Contrarily, burning increased the soil bulk density of the grassland and decreased the soil pH value, SOM, concentrations of exchangeable cations, CEC, and base saturation. Exposure of soils after fire in this steep area with abundant precipitation may lead to serious soil erosion and nutrient loss. Significant decreases in soil carbon and nitrogen contents were also found in the burned grassland. Determination of the loss of soil C and N caused by intensified mineralization of the organic matter needs further study. Soils from the study sites show the typical characteristics of an Andisol, being strongly acidic, with fewer exchangeable cations, a low base saturation (<3%), and an accumulation of soil organic matter with Al-compounds which are recalcitrant to decomposition. Therefore, the effects of vegetation types (grassland and natural forest) on the contents of SOM, TC, TN, and CEC were not significant. Since bamboo shoots are collected by local people, nutrients may be continuously removed from the site with bamboo resulting in lower concentrations of exchangeable cations, CEC, and SOM compared to the undisturbed grassland and natural forest.
Subjects
Dwarf-bamboo; Fire; Grassland; Natural forest; Soil chemistry; Soil temperature
SDGs
Other Subjects
Bamboo; Fires; pH effects; Precipitation (meteorology); Soils; Dwarf-bamboos; Vegetation; Bamboo; Forest Fires; Grass Lands; Plants; Precipitation; Bambusa; Fraxinus; Miscanthus; Miscanthus floridulus
Type
journal article