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Do Wildfires Cause Changes in Soil Quality in the Short Term?

Author

Listed:
  • Valeria Memoli

    (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

  • Speranza Claudia Panico

    (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

  • Lucia Santorufo

    (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

  • Rossella Barile

    (Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, Via Palazzo del Principe c/o Castello Mediceo, 80044 Ottaviano (NA), Italy)

  • Gabriella Di Natale

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
    CeSMA-Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici Avanzati, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Corso Nicolangelo Protopisani, 80146 San Giovanni a Teduccio (NA), Italy)

  • Aldo Di Nunzio

    (CeSMA-Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici Avanzati, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Corso Nicolangelo Protopisani, 80146 San Giovanni a Teduccio (NA), Italy)

  • Maria Toscanesi

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

  • Marco Trifuoggi

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

  • Anna De Marco

    (Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Montesano, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

  • Giulia Maisto

    (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify the soil abiotic (i.e., pH, contents of water, organic matter and elements) and biotic properties (i.e., biomass and activity). In 2017, an intense wildfire occurred inside the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy), destroying approximately 50% of the existing plant cover. So, the research aimed to evaluate the fire effects on soil quality through single soil abiotic and biotic indicators and through an integrated index (SQI). To achieve the aim, soil samples were collected inside the Vesuvius National Park at 12 sampling field points before fire (BF) and after fire (AF). The findings highlighted that in AF soil, the contents of water and total carbon, element availability, respiration and the dehydrogenase activity were lower than in BF soil; in contrast, pH and hydrolase activity were significantly higher in AF soil. The microbial biomass and activity were affected by Al, Cr and Cu availability in both BF and AF soils. Despite the variations in each investigated soil abiotic and biotic property that occurred in AF soil, the overall soil quality did not significantly differ as compared to that calculated for the BF soil. The findings provide a contribution to the baseline definition of the properties and quality of burnt soil and highlight the short-term effects of fire on volcanic soil in the Mediterranean area.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeria Memoli & Speranza Claudia Panico & Lucia Santorufo & Rossella Barile & Gabriella Di Natale & Aldo Di Nunzio & Maria Toscanesi & Marco Trifuoggi & Anna De Marco & Giulia Maisto, 2020. "Do Wildfires Cause Changes in Soil Quality in the Short Term?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5343-:d:389460
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Speranza Claudia Panico & Valeria Memoli & Lucia Santorufo & Stefania Aiello & Rossella Barile & Anna De Marco & Giulia Maisto, 2022. "Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Lucia Santorufo & Valeria Memoli & Speranza Claudia Panico & Giorgia Santini & Rossella Barile & Antonella Giarra & Gabriella Di Natale & Marco Trifuoggi & Anna De Marco & Giulia Maisto, 2021. "Combined Effects of Wildfire and Vegetation Cover Type on Volcanic Soil (Functions and Properties) in a Mediterranean Region: Comparison of Two Soil Quality Indices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Giorgia Santini & Valeria Memoli & Ermenegilda Vitale & Gabriella Di Natale & Marco Trifuoggi & Giulia Maisto & Lucia Santorufo, 2023. "Metal Release from Microplastics to Soil: Effects on Soil Enzymatic Activities and Spinach Production," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Lucia Santorufo & Valeria Memoli & Speranza Claudia Panico & Francesco Esposito & Luca Vitale & Gabriella Di Natale & Marco Trifuoggi & Rossella Barile & Anna De Marco & Giulia Maisto, 2021. "Impact of Anthropic Activities on Soil Quality under Different Land Uses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.

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