Premium
The Effect of Fire on Nutrients in a Chaparral Ecosystem
Author(s) -
Debano L. F.,
Conrad C. E.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936579
Subject(s) - chaparral , nutrient , environmental science , litter , ecosystem , ecology , prescribed burn , fire ecology , plant litter , agronomy , nutrient cycle , fire regime , biology
The distribution of nutrients in plants, litter, and soil were studied before and after a prescribed burn in southern California chaparral. Total N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca were measured. The various nutrients were distributed differently in the plant parts and the litter before fire and this affected their redistribution by fire. Measurable losses of only 2 nutrients occurred–N (146 kg/ha) and K (49 kg/ha). Erosional losses of nutrients during the first rainy season after fire are also reported.