Effects of recovery time after fire and fire severity on stand structure and soil of larch forest in the Kanas National Nature Reserve, Northwest China

Abstract

Forest recovery may be influenced by several factors, of which fire is the most critical. However, moderate-and long-term effects of fire on forest recovery are less researched in Northwest China. Thus, the effects of different forest recovery time after fire (1917 (served as the control), 1974, 1983 and 1995) and fire severities (low, moderate and high) on larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) forest were investigated in the Kanas National Nature Reserve (KNNR), Northwest China in 2017. This paper analyzed post-fire changes in stand density, total basal area (TBA), litter mass, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium) with one-way analyses of variance. Results indicate that litter mass, TBA, SOC and soil nutrients increased with increasing recovery time after fire and decreasing fire severity, while the stand density showed an opposite response. The effects of fire disturbance on SOC and soil nutrients decreased with increasing soil depth. Moreover, we found that the time of more than 43 a is needed to recover the litter mass, TBA, SOC and soil nutrients to the pre-fire level. In conclusion, high-severity fire caused the greatest variations in stand structure and soil of larch forest, and low-severity fire was more advantageous for post-fire forest stand structure and soil recovery in the KNNR. Therefore, low-severity fire can be an efficient management mean through reducing the accumulation of forest floor fuel of post-fire forests in the KNNR, Northwest China.

Current Status of Research on Wildland Fire Impacts on Soil Environment and Soil Organisms and Hotspots Visualization Analysis

“…From Figure 4, it can be seen that the keywords separate into six clusters (indicated by colors), indicating that, from 1998 to 2023, there were six important research topics in the field of the impact of wildfires on soil environment: "Wildfire", "Organic matter", "Vegetation", "Black carbon", "Climate Change" and "Burn severity". The results indicate that the current focus is mainly on four aspects: (1) effects of fire on nutrient content, transformation and cycling in soils, and how soil fertility can be improved through fire management [43,44]; (2) the process of restoring ecosystems after fires, including revegetation, soil remediation and restoration of ecological functions [45]; (3) studies towards the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of fires and how fires in turn affect the climate system [46]; and (4) analyses of the impact of fire on soil erosion and water erosion and what measures can be taken to mitigate these problems [47].…”

Cortinarius and Tomentella Fungi Become Dominant Taxa in Taiga Soil after Fire Disturbance

“…On the one hand, the high temperatures generated by a fire can directly kill or burn fauna and flora [2]; on the other hand, fire can also have a significant impact on the structure and function of forest ecosystems by altering the composition of vegetation communities [3], the physicochemical properties of the soil [4] and the activities of soil microorganisms [5]; the latter have significant impacts on the structure and function of forest ecosystems. In recent years, multiple studies have shown that forest fires, although causing damage, can also have positive effects [6][7][8][9]. Fires can to some extent promote the ecological effectiveness of forest ecosystems [10], enable the succession and restoration of plant communities [11], promote soil nutrient cycling [12], stimulate the functional activity of soil microorganisms [13], and suppress pest outbreaks [14].…”

New Species of Tomentella (Thelephorales, Basidiomycota) from Temperate Continental Mountain Climate of China (Xinjiang Region)

“…The regions belong to the typical temperate continental mountain climate with the obvious temperature fluctuations between day and night. Their average annual temperatures are -0.2 • C, 2.6 • C, and 5 • C, respectively [35,36], with average annual precipitation of 1065, 610, and 600-800 mm [35][36][37]. Kanas National Nature Reserve is the only area characterized by European Siberian flora in China [35], with the domination of Abies sibirica Ledeb., Betula pendula Roth., Larix sibirica Ledeb., Picea obovata Ledeb., Pinus sibirica (Loud.)…”

“…Kanas National Nature Reserve is the only area characterized by European Siberian flora in China [35], with the domination of Abies sibirica Ledeb., Betula pendula Roth., Larix sibirica Ledeb., Picea obovata Ledeb., Pinus sibirica (Loud.) Mayr, and Populus tremula Linn [36]. Tianshan Tianchi National Park is dominated by the Schrenk spruce, P. schrenkiana Fisch.…”