The effects of fire on the properties of soil in Acacia mangium plantations in South Sumatra, Indonesia
1999
Saharjo, B.H. (Bogor Agricultural Univ., (Indonesia). Faculty of Forestry. Division of Forest Management. Laboratory of Forest Protection)
The effects of fire on the properties of soil in Acacia mangium plantations in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The objective of the study was to clarify the effects of fire on soil chemical and physical properties of young Acacia mangium plantations aged 1, 2, 3 and 4 years in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Fire was allowed to propagate naturally in a 300 square metres (15 x 20m) plot in each aged plantation. Soil samples were taken before, immediately after and one year after burning. The results show that in the 1-y-old plantation there were significant increases in pH, available-P, Mg, K, Na, total bases and base saturation, and non-significant changes in the other chemical parameters in the soil immediately after burning. At one year after burning, relative to pre-burning levels, all the parameters showed significant decreases except for total bases, where the decrease was not significant, and available -P, Ca and base saturation, which gave significant increases. This trend was not repeated in the other aged plantations. Only C-organic and total-N decreased immediately (though only significantly in the two older plantations), and at one year after burning (significantly relative to pre-burning levels) in all plantations. Another common trend in all plantations was the significant increase in available -P immediately and at one year after burning (over the pre-burning levels). Soil permeability, porosity, and soil moisture content generally decreased immediately after burning, due to the destruction of litter and vegetation protecting the surface layer, but at one year after burning little destruction was found in the physical properties of soil. It can be concluded that some changes that occur immediately after burning are a temporary effect.
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