"Some like it hot and some like it not": The Effect of Burning on Soil Microbes

Wien

2010

S. 6

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200167808

In the Mediterranean region climate change scenarios suggest that intensity and length of summer drought periods will possibly increase the frequency and likeliness of fires. The burning of maquis leads to significant losses of carbon and nitrogen to the atmosphere and mineral nitrogen concentrations are increased in the uppermost soil layers. However, little Information is available about post-fire effects on ecosystem C and N Stocks and turnover rates, as well as the response of the microbial biomass and microbial community structure. We will present results from a burning experiment in Spain and discuss the response of soil microbial biomass, N-turnover and functional groups of soil microbes. Our results show that additionally to C and N losses during burning of maquis, losses of N may occur after burning if soil moisture and soil temperature are favourable for nitrification and denitrification. Soil microbes have declined significantly and have not recovered over a two month period. Further investigations aim at microbial recovery periods and the linkage of data with field measurements.