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Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area

Author

Listed:
  • Speranza Claudia Panico

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

  • Valeria Memoli

    (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
    BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy)

  • Stefania Aiello

    (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, Italy)

  • Anna De Marco

    (BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
    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
    BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy)

Abstract

The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological response was evaluated by the Integrative Biological Responses (IBR) index. Before the fire, organic matter and N contents were significantly higher in P than H soils. After the fire, significant increases of pH, organic matter, C/N ratio, microbial biomass and respiration, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities were observed in all the soils, especially under HO. In conclusion, the post-fire soil conditions were less favorable for microorganisms, as the IBR index decreased when compared to the pre-fire conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:903-:d:724615
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Kerstin Nielsen & Christina-Luise Roß & Marieke Hoffmann & Andreas Muskolus & Frank Ellmer & Timo Kautz, 2020. "The Chemical Composition of Biogas Digestates Determines Their Effect on Soil Microbial Activity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lizardo Reyna & Jarosław Lasota & Lizardo Reyna-Bowen & Lenin Vera-Montenegro & Emil Cristhian Vega-Ponce & Maria Luisa Izaguirre-Mayoral & Ewa Błońska, 2023. "A New Approach to Monitor Soil Microbial Driven C/N Ratio in Temperate Evergreen Coniferous Forests Managed via Sentinel-2 Spectral Imagery," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-8, January.

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