Forest fires are key ecosystem modifiers affecting the biological, chemical, and physical attributes of forest soils. The extent of soil disturbance by fire is largely dependent on fire intensity, duration and recurrence, fuel load, and soil characteristics. The impact on soil properties is intricate, yielding different results based on these factors. This paper reviews research investigating the effects of wildfire and prescribed fire on the biological and physico-chemical attributes of forest soils and provides a summary of current knowledge associated with the benefits and disadvantages of such fires. Low-intensity fires with ash deposition on soil surfaces cause changes in soil chemistry, including increase in available nutrients and pH. High intensity fires are noted for the complete combustion of organic matter and result in severe negative impacts on forest soils. High intensity fires result in nutrient volatilization, the break down in soil aggregate stability, an increase soil bulk density, an increase in the hydrophobicity of soil particles leading to decreased water infiltration with increased erosion and destroy soil biota. High soil heating (> 120 °C) from high-intensity forest fires is detrimental to the soil ecosystem, especially its physical and biological properties. In this regard, the use of prescribed burning as a management tool to reduce the fuel load is highly recommended due to its low intensity and limited soil heating. Furthermore, the use of prescribed fires to manage fuel loads is critically needed in the light of current global warming as it will help prevent increased wildfire incidences. This review provides information on the impact of forest fires on soil properties, a key feature in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. In addition, the review should prompt comprehensive soil and forest management regimes to limit soil disturbance and restore fire-disturbed soil ecosystems.
The study was conducted at the Faculty of the Forest Resources Technology, Sunyani, Ghana, with the objective of finding out the litter fall and the decomposition trend of Jatropha curcas leaf mulches. A 2 mm nylon mesh size fitted to stakes at 1 m above the ground was used to trap the leaf litter and their oven dry weights taken. Decomposition of Jatropha curcas leaf litter was assessed by placing 80 g fresh leaf in a 0.30 m x 0.30 m nylon litter decomposition bags of 2 mm mesh size at two (2) different environmental conditions and records taken for four months. The results showed that the total quantity of litter produced in a year at different spacing were 2.27 ton/ha, 1.10 tons/ha and 0.79 tons/ha for 1 m x 1m, 2 m x 1m and 3 m x 1m respectively. The month of November had the highest litter fall (508.8 kg/ha) for 1 m x 1 m. Jatropha curcas under open canopy had 97-99% of the leaf litter decomposing at the end of the experimental period (120 days) and a half life of 25 days. The concentration of carbon, nitrogen and phosphourus, calcium, magnesium and potassium did vary significantly over the four months period. On the basis of the results obtained Jatropha curcas leaf liter would not be good mulch but could be a source of nutrients.
The limited number of studies on mixed plantations makes it difficult to accurately predict success of mixed-species combination especially with regards to growth, undergrowth diversity and carbon sequestration potentials. This study therefore provides information on the effects of Ceiba pentandra, Terminalia superba, Cedrela odorata and Khaya anthotheca in three different stand combinations on growth, undergrowth diversity and carbon sequestration potential. A 15-year-old coupe of 32 ha of mixed tree species stand combinations was selected for the study. The coupe was stratified based on the species combinations. Nested sub-plots (25 m × 25 m) were randomly laid in different species stand combinations for growth data collection. In each nested sub-plot, 1 m × 1 m plots were also randomly laid for undergrowth diversity study. The results revealed that two species stand combination of Ceiba pentandra and Terminalia superba performed better in terms of growth, carbon sequestration and carbon content as compared to the other species stand combinations. The saplings on the other hand, were more diverse under the three species stand combination plots. Also, the effective number of species, species richness, evenness, and dominance were higher in the four species stand combination plots. Generally, Ceiba pentandra and Terminalia superba are compatible as it produced the highest growth and carbon sequestration potential.
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