Efecto de incendios en la vegetación de sotobosque y propiedades químicas de suelo de bosques templados

Abstract

Objective: to assess the severity of a forest fire and its impact on understory vegetation
(shrubs, herbs, grasses) and on the chemical properties of the soil.
Design/methodology/approach: in an area of 100 m 2 , individuals of shrubs, herbs and
grasses were recorded. Soil was also collected in 60 x 60 cm subsites in all sampling
sites in three regions of a temperate forest considering the severity of the fire as intact,
intermediate and severe.
Results: it was found that the relative abundance of different life forms varied in relation
to severity, only herbaceous benefited in intermediate severity, shrubs and grasses
decreased. Soil pH and exchangeable cations Mg++, Na+, K+ and Ca++ increased as
fire severity increased. N, P, K nutrients increased mainly in the intermediate severity,
contrary to expectations for N.
Limitations of the study/implications: not having more temperate forest zones
replicated reduces the ecological patterns of understory vegetation succession and
chemical soil changes.

Findings/conclusions: The intermediate fire severity presented greater abundance of
herbaceous plants. Similarly, the interchangeable cations, nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium increased in the same severity.