Fire Effects on Soil Nutrients and Carbon Sequestration
Prescribed fire at Pebble Hill Fire Plots, Georgia. |
The Fire Ecology Program is using Tall Timbers' various long-term studies to determine the effects of prescribed fire and fire frequency on soil nutrient and carbon dynamics. Research is aimed at better understanding the role fire plays in natural chemical cycles in southern U.S. pinelands. Preliminary research suggests that frequent (2-3 year interval) burning, which mimics the natural fire frequency of the ecosystem, is beneficial to both soil nutrient availability and carbon storage in old-field (post-agriculture) pine forests.. Further research including additional sites will be important for testing the generality of these findings.
References:
Robertson, K.M. Wildfire, prescribed fire, and climate change. [Presentation to the Florida Governor's Cabinet, June 2007 - in PDF format]
Tall Timbers Research Notes and E-News Articles:
- Effects of fire suppression on soils. February 2004
- Fire frequency and soil nutrients - A new study in the Stoddard Plots, April 2004
- Stoddard fire plot soils, June 2005
- Why study soils? June 2005
- Fire frequency and carbon, nitrogen storage, June 2006
- Prescribed Fire and Soil Carbon Sequestration, July 2008
- Effects of Fire Regime on Physical Soil Properties, April 2010