Articles | Volume 2, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-351-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-351-2016
Original research article
 | 
22 Jul 2016
Original research article |  | 22 Jul 2016

Thermal alteration of soil physico-chemical properties: a systematic study to infer response of Sierra Nevada climosequence soils to forest fires

Samuel N. Araya, Mercer Meding, and Asmeret Asefaw Berhe

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Cited articles

Albalasmeh, A. A., Berli, M., Shafer, D. S., and Ghezzehei, T. A.: Degradation of moist soil aggregates by rapid temperature rise under low intensity fire, Plant Soil, 362, 335–344, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1408-z, 2013.
Arcenegui, V., Mataix-Solera, J., Guerrero, C., Zomoza, R., Matalx-Beneyto, J., and Garcia-Orenes, F.: Immediate effects of wildfires on water repellency and aggregate stability in Mediterranean calcareous soils, Catena, 74, 219–226, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2007.12.008, 2008.
Arnold, C., Ghezzehei, T. A., and Berhe, A. A.: Early spring, severe frost events, and drought induce rapid carbon loss in high elevation meadows, PloS One, 9, e106058, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106058, 2014.
Arnold, C., Ghezzehei, T. A., and Berhe, A. A.: Decomposition of distinct organic matter pools is regulated by moisture status in structured wetland soils, Soil Biol. Biochem., 81, 28–37, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.10.029, 2015.
Badía, D. and Martí, C.: Effect of simulated fire on organic matter and selected microbiological properties of two contrasting soils, Arid Land Res. Manage., 17, 55–69, https://doi.org/10.1080/15324980301594, 2003a.
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Short summary
Using laboratory heating, we studied effects of fire intensity on important topsoil characteristics. This study identifies critical temperature thresholds for significant physical and chemical changes in soils that developed under different climate regimes. Findings from this study will contribute towards estimating the amount and rate of change in essential soil properties that can be expected from topsoil exposure to different intensity fires under anticipated climate change scenarios.