Atmospheric Losses of Four Plant Nutrients During a Forest Fire

Nutrient losses during a winter low-intensity prescribed fire in a Mediterranean forest

“…These data give useful indications on nutrient losses during burning, but always under artificial conditions. Attempts in the field were based on differences in the nutrient content of fuels before burning and of the remains after the fire (De Bano and Conrad, 1978;Grove et al 1986;Harwood and Jackson, 1975;Schoch and Binkley, 1986). In these studies, plant and litter nutrient and biomass were sampled before burning and after fire, sometimes with inclusion of the surface soil layer.…”

Prescribed Fire in Industrial Pine Plantations

“…Nutrient losses resulting from fires may occur by volatilization, by removal of particulate matter in smoke, by surface transportation in runoff, and by leaching through the soil (Harwood and Jackson 1975). Volatilization of elements requires high fire intensities so such losses are minimal in low-intensity prescribed fires.…”

Nutrient stocks in Tasmanian vegetation and approximate losses due to fire

“…Losses of nutrients in less intense fires are much lower and are highly variable, due to the range of fuel consumed and the range of fire-intensity effects on volatile and particle loss in the smoke, transportation of elements into various mineral states in the ash, consumption of duff, removal of soil in the updraft, heating of the soil, exposure to erosion and leaching (Raison et al 1993, Fisher & Binkley 2000. Estimates oflosses via atmospheric transfer in burning logging slash in forest regeneration in the Florentine Valley were approximately 15-20% in P, K, Ca and Mg (Harwood & Jackson 1975). Losses of nutrients in smoke during cool fuel-reduction fires are expected to be only 1-5% of the losses suggested in table 5.…”

“…Furthermore, recurrent fire encourages vegetation with lower nutrient requirements and greater reliance on vegetative reproduction or dependence on fire for regeneration. Fires cause a direct loss of nutrients by the removal of volatilised elements and particles in the updraft (Harwood & Jackson 1975, Bowman & Jackson 1981, Raison et al 1985a, b, 1990, 1993, Walker et al 1986, Fisher & Binkley 2000. Further losses of mineralised nutrients in the ash residue occur through gravitational movement due to wind and water and in solution both in run-off and down the soil profile by leaching (Bowman & Jackson 1981, Bowman et al 1986, Raison et al 1993.…”