Soil Chemical Properties and Trace Elements after Wildfire in Mediterranean Croatia: Effect of Severity, Vegetation Type and Time-Since-Fire

Hrelja, Iva; Šestak, Ivana; Delač, Domina; Pereira, Paulo; Bogunović, Igor

doi:10.3390/agronomy12071515

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The content of trace elements in soil depends on its type [58,59]. The content of most trace elements (cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel, manganese, lead, and cadmium) in soil was higher in loamy sand than in sand.…”

Section: Content Of Trace Elements In Soil Depending On Type Of Soil ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Element Content in Soils with Nitrogen Fertilisation and Humic Acids Addition

2023

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Application of mineral fertilisers can entail an increase in trace element content in the soil. In consequence, their elevated uptake by plants and transfer to further trophic chain links may occur. The aim of the research reported here was to determine the usefulness of the tested organic materials, such as humic acids, for reduction of the content of trace elements in two soils fertilised with excessive doses of nitrogen fertilisers. Soil type had a considerable effect on soil trace element content. The content of most trace elements (cadmium, lead, chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and iron) was higher in loamy sand than in sand. Among the tested fertilisers, a higher content of most soil trace elements was found after the application of ammonium nitrate. Urea fertilisation led to a decrease in the content of cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc in both soils; cobalt, manganese, and nickel in sand; and an increase in concentration of cobalt and manganese in loamy sand, relative to the subjects fertilised with ammonium nitrate. Urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) decreased the content of chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc in both soils; lead in the sand; and cobalt in the loamy sand, while raising the content of lead in the loamy sand, relative to the subjects fertilised with ammonium nitrate. The impact of urea and UAN on the remaining trace element content in the soils was comparable to that effected by ammonium nitrate. The effect of humic acids on trace element content in the soil tended to be beneficial, as they reduced the soil concentrations of these elements compared to the control subject (without their application). However, it should be emphasised that their effect depended on nitrogen fertiliser form and soil type. Humic acids can effectively reduce the uptake of trace elements by some plant species.

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Section: Content Of Trace Elements In Soil Depending On Type Of Soil ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Element Content in Soils with Nitrogen Fertilisation and Humic Acids Addition

2023

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“…The presence of clay minerals, such as kaolinite, smectite, and micas, in the subsoils and corresponding topsoils implies that the fire temperature at the mineral soil surface did not exceed 500 °C [5,16]. All soil samples exhibited elevated median 'pseudo total' values of Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Co compared to those from adjacent unburned areas [6,27,28] (Table 1). However, they were analogous to those in burned areas with similar lithology [14] or vegetation [8].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This observation concurs with earlier studies on burnt areas of similar lithology (e.g., [14]). All soil samples exhibited elevated median 'pseudo total' values of Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Co compared to those from adjacent unburned areas [27,28,6] (Table 1). However, they were analogous to those in burned areas with similar lithology [14] or vegetation [8].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2019, a high-severity wildfire in Croatia was followed by noticeably elevated Cu and Zn concentrations in soils [6]. According to a recent soil study conducted after a wildfire in Greece, Al, As, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and V in burned topsoil were higher than the residential soil-screening thresholds or soil-quality requirements for residential land use, threatening potential harm to human health and the environment [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mediterranean Wildfires’ Effect on Soil Quality and Properties: A Case from Northern Euboea, Greece

Megremi,

Stathopoulou,

Vorris

et al. 2024

Land

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Physical and chemical soil properties are affected by wildfires. Post-wildfire runoff may contain nutrient loads and particulate matter that negatively impact soil, surface water, and groundwater. According to data from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, devastating wildfires on Northern Euboea Island, Greece, in August 2021 destroyed more than 50,910 ha. Coniferous and broad-leaved forests mostly covered the affected area, according to CORINE. Topsoil and subsoil samples were collected from burned areas and analyzed for physicochemical parameters: pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon. After digestion with aqua regia, the Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, and As ‘pseudo total’ contents were determined. Leaching experiments were conducted to evaluate the levels of potentially toxic elements leaching from soils and the impact of environmental conditions. The leachates were analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, As, Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Overall, most of the concentrations of the studied elements were higher in fire-affected soils than in unburned ones. Similar findings for element concentrations have been confirmed between topsoils and subsoils, with the latter exhibiting lower values. The increased ‘pseudo total’ values of Cr, Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn in all the soil samples, along with the medium to high positive correlations between them, indicate that geogenic factors play a major role in controlling element enrichment. High concentrations of Mn, Ni, and As in soil leachates exceeded the EU maximum permissible limits, indicating a potential ecological risk to natural water quality and, subsequently, to human health. The correlation coefficients between elements in fire-affected and unburned soils suggested that their geogenic origins were mainly associated with the ultramafic rocks and related ores of the study area. The elements’ concentrations in the leachates were significantly lower than their ‘pseudo total’ contents in soil, with no correlation between them. The reducing order of elements leachability did not coincide with the decreasing order of elements ‘pseudo total’ median values in soils. The decreasing order of element abundance in soil leachates coincides with their relative extractability and differs from the decreasing order of their ‘pseudo total’ median values in soils. Neutral to alkaline, soil pH conditions and organic carbon content, which substantially influence the retention and mobility of elements, presented different patterns among the studied elements, with only Mn, Cr, and Co showing correlations. The increased content of organic matter in fire-affected soils suggests that the combustion of vegetation was incomplete.

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“…Consequently, much research has been focused on the effects of fire on vegetation and soil, e.g., [3,[30][31][32][33]; post-fire vegetation dynamics, e.g., [1,2,34]; the effects of fire on biodiversity, e.g., [35][36][37]; landscape recovery and fire-risk mitigation, e.g., [38][39][40]; methods based on remote sensing to quantify burned areas, severity levels, vegetation recovery rates and effects of fires on the carbon cycle, e.g., [19,[41][42][43][44]. The aim of all these studies can be summarized as the need to comprehend the complex roles and effects of wildfires on ecological systems, the repercussion on human life, and to prevent or mitigate the negative consequences, particularly from the perspective of climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Effects and Vegetation Response after a Megafire in a Mediterranean Area

Rossetti

Cogoni

Calderisi

et al. 2022

Land

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In Mediterranean-climate areas, wildfires have an important ecological role, selecting organisms, influencing species composition and structure of vegetation, and shaping landscapes. However, the increase in frequency and severity of fires can cause, among others, progressive vegetation degradation, biodiversity, and ecosystem services loss. Under the climate change scenario, the frequency and severity of wildfires are expected to increase, especially in the Mediterranean Basin, recognized as among the most affected by the intensification of droughts and heat waves in the future. Therefore, from the perspective of adaptation, it is important not only to assess the sudden effects after a fire but also to investigate the ecological changes and vegetation response over time. In this framework, this study investigates the effects and the short-term vegetation response in an area struck by a megafire. The vegetation response one year after a fire has been assessed in semi-natural grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands at the landscape scale through spectral indices, and at the field scale through floristic and vegetation surveys. Our results showed that after a severe wildfire, although some areas did not exhibit vegetation regrowth, the response of natural vegetation was notable after one year. In the study area, the most resilient vegetation type was semi-natural grasslands, suggesting that this type of vegetation can be crucial for landscape recovery. The other vegetation types showed different response patterns that also prefigure possible changes in species composition and loss of plant diversity over the medium term. This study highlights the value of combining remote sensing spectral analyses and detailed floristic and vegetation surveys for understanding the direction of the early stages of post-fire vegetation dynamics.

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Soil Chemical Properties and Trace Elements after Wildfire in Mediterranean Croatia: Effect of Severity, Vegetation Type and Time-Since-Fire

Cited by 13 publications

References 55 publications

Trace Element Content in Soils with Nitrogen Fertilisation and Humic Acids Addition

Trace Element Content in Soils with Nitrogen Fertilisation and Humic Acids Addition

Mediterranean Wildfires’ Effect on Soil Quality and Properties: A Case from Northern Euboea, Greece

Short-Term Effects and Vegetation Response after a Megafire in a Mediterranean Area

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