Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China
Wildfires and post-fire restoration methods significantly impact soil physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics in forest ecosystems. Understanding post-fire soil recovery and the impacts of various post-fire restoration methods is essential for developing effective restoration strate...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/12/474 |
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| author | Hongen Zhou Mengmeng Yang Xuan Luo Zefang Yang Lanqing Wang Shizhong Liu Qianmei Zhang Mingdao Luo Jinwei Ou Shiyang Xiong Yujie Qin Yuelin Li |
| author_facet | Hongen Zhou Mengmeng Yang Xuan Luo Zefang Yang Lanqing Wang Shizhong Liu Qianmei Zhang Mingdao Luo Jinwei Ou Shiyang Xiong Yujie Qin Yuelin Li |
| author_sort | Hongen Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wildfires and post-fire restoration methods significantly impact soil physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics in forest ecosystems. Understanding post-fire soil recovery and the impacts of various post-fire restoration methods is essential for developing effective restoration strategies. This study aimed to investigate how fire and soil depth influence soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activities, and the structure of microbial communities, as well as how these factors change under different post-fire management practices. We sampled 0–10 cm (topsoil) and 10–20 cm (subsoil) in unburned plots, naturally restored plots, and two afforestation plots in southern China. The results showed that fire reduced topsoil soil moisture, nutrient levels, and microbial biomass. The variations in soil physicochemical properties significantly influenced microbial processes. Soil bulk density, nitrate, ammonium, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability influenced soil enzyme activities. Soil pH, ammonium nitrogen, and the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were key factors shaping microbial composition. Fire altered the soil microbial communities by reducing the availability of nitrogen. Soil depth alleviated the impact of fire on the soil to some degree. Although artificial interventions reduced soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, planting nitrogen-fixing species, such as <i>Acacia mangium</i>, promoted microbial recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d45db52beb0c4bc1ad47ed056201910f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj-art-d45db52beb0c4bc1ad47ed056201910f2025-08-20T02:53:26ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552024-12-0171247410.3390/fire7120474Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern ChinaHongen Zhou0Mengmeng Yang1Xuan Luo2Zefang Yang3Lanqing Wang4Shizhong Liu5Qianmei Zhang6Mingdao Luo7Jinwei Ou8Shiyang Xiong9Yujie Qin10Yuelin Li11School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaForestry Science Research Institute of Gaoming District, Foshan 528500, ChinaForestry Science Research Institute of Gaoming District, Foshan 528500, ChinaForestry Science Research Institute of Gaoming District, Foshan 528500, ChinaSchool of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaWildfires and post-fire restoration methods significantly impact soil physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics in forest ecosystems. Understanding post-fire soil recovery and the impacts of various post-fire restoration methods is essential for developing effective restoration strategies. This study aimed to investigate how fire and soil depth influence soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activities, and the structure of microbial communities, as well as how these factors change under different post-fire management practices. We sampled 0–10 cm (topsoil) and 10–20 cm (subsoil) in unburned plots, naturally restored plots, and two afforestation plots in southern China. The results showed that fire reduced topsoil soil moisture, nutrient levels, and microbial biomass. The variations in soil physicochemical properties significantly influenced microbial processes. Soil bulk density, nitrate, ammonium, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability influenced soil enzyme activities. Soil pH, ammonium nitrogen, and the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were key factors shaping microbial composition. Fire altered the soil microbial communities by reducing the availability of nitrogen. Soil depth alleviated the impact of fire on the soil to some degree. Although artificial interventions reduced soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, planting nitrogen-fixing species, such as <i>Acacia mangium</i>, promoted microbial recovery.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/12/474wildfire effectspost-fire managementmicrobial activitysoil nutrientsphospholipid fatty acids |
| spellingShingle | Hongen Zhou Mengmeng Yang Xuan Luo Zefang Yang Lanqing Wang Shizhong Liu Qianmei Zhang Mingdao Luo Jinwei Ou Shiyang Xiong Yujie Qin Yuelin Li Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China Fire wildfire effects post-fire management microbial activity soil nutrients phospholipid fatty acids |
| title | Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China |
| title_full | Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China |
| title_fullStr | Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China |
| title_short | Short-Term Impacts of Fire and Post-Fire Restoration Methods on Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Southern China |
| title_sort | short term impacts of fire and post fire restoration methods on soil properties and microbial characteristics in southern china |
| topic | wildfire effects post-fire management microbial activity soil nutrients phospholipid fatty acids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/12/474 |
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