Abstract

GARCIA-CARMONA, Minerva et al. The role of mosses in soil physico-chemical properties under two contrasting post-fire managements in Central Portugal. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.871-880.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28645.

Mosses play an important role after wildfires, acting as early colonizers before the establishment of vascular vegetation, thus stabilizing, and protecting soil against erosion. However, little is known about the effect of moss development on soil recovery after wildfires. In this work, we studied effects of mosses on soil physicho-chemical properties in a burned eucalyptus plantation under two contrasting post-fire managements in Central Portugal, six years after wildfire. Post-fire managements were applied in two separate areas from the same wildfire and consisted of salvage logging vs. mulching with standard and low application rates (8 and 2.6 Mg ha-1, respectively). Six years after fire, for each area and management type (untreated, logged, mulched standard/low), we collected five soil samples at 0-2.5 depth with and without moss biocrusts (n=50). Soils were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, oxidizable organic C, total N, available P, aggregate stability, macro-aggregate content, and wettability. The studied post-fire managements showed contrasting effects on soil properties in the medium-term. Whereas salvage logging did not negatively affect soils, the mulching at a standard rate increased soil fertility six years after the fire. The moss biocrust emerged after the wildfire preserved soil structure, thus decreasing the risk of soil erosion.

Keywords : Mosses; mulch; salvage logging; post-fire management.

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