International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Effect of Pine Plantation Surface fires on Soil Chemical Properties in Uganda

    ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Dept. of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kampala, UGANDA
  • 2Dept. of Environmental Management, Makerere University, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kampala, UGANDA

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 1, Issue (7), Pages 10-14, August,8 (2013)

Abstract

Population growth has increased demand for forest products, but supplies from natural forests have reduced due to degradation. Tree plantations have been established. However, plantation forestry in Uganda is greatly affected by the recurrent fires. Few studies on impact of fires on soil chemical properties have been done in Uganda. Research was carried out in Hoima District at Corewoods Limited to; i. compare soil pH in burnt and un-burnt plots, ii. compare the exchangeable bases (K, Mg, and Ca) in burnt and un-burnt plots, iii. to compare nitrogen, available phosphorus and soil organic matter in burnt and un-burnt plots. Diagonal sampling was used in both burnt and un-burnt areas where 6 plots each consisting of 5 sub-plots were made. Thirty (30) composite soil samples were collected from each area, giving a total of 60 for soil chemical analysis. Nitrogen, soil organic matter content, soil pH and exchangeable cations were determined using standard laboratory procedure. Data was analyzed using Mintab14 and the T-test was used for comparisons. Results showed a significant increase in soil pH in burnt plots (P value = 0.024), but no significant change in organic matter (P value = 0.077) and available phosphorus (P value = 0.77). Total nitrogen was significantly different (P value = 0.013). There were significant differences in exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg and K) in burnt and un-burnt plots with P values 0.018, 0.034 and 0.001 respectively. Due to the effect of fires on soil chemical properties, plantation managers should be fully equipped; and prescribed burning as management tool should be put on the discussion platform such that better techniques and skills are employed.

References

  1. Schmidt M.W.I., Skjemstad J.O., Gehrt E. and KogelKnabnerI., Charred organic carbon in German chernozemicsoils, Eur J Soil Sci., 50, 351–365 (1999)
  2. Neary D.G., Klopatek C.C., Debano L.F., and Folliott P.F., Fire effects on belowground sustainability: a review andsynthesis, Forest Ecol Manag, 122, 51-71 (1999)
  3. Farjon A. Pines, 2nd edition 2005, E.J. Brill, Leiden, ISBN90-04-13916-8 (1984)
  4. Kutiel P. and Shaviv A., Effects of soil type, plantcomposition and leaching on soilnutrients following asimulated forest fire, Forest Ecol Manag, 53, 329-343(1992)
  5. Lavoie M., Starr G., Mack M.C., Martin T.A. and GholzH.L., Effects of a prescribed fire on understory vegetation, carbon pools, and soil nutrients in a longleaf pine-slash pineforest in Florida, USA, Natural Areas J., 30, 82-94 (2010)
  6. DeBano L.F., The effect of forest fire on soil properties.Symposium on Management and Productivity of WesternMontaneForest Soil, 151-156, Boise, ID, USA (1990)
  7. Certini G., Effect of fire on properties of soil - A review, Oecol, 143, 1-10 (2005)
  8. Mataix-Solera J. and Doerr S.H., Hydrophobicity andaggregate stability in calcareous top soils from fire-affectedpine forests in southeastern Spain, Geoderma, 118, 77–88(2004)
  9. Alward R.D., Detling J.K. and Milchunas D.G., Grasslandvegetation changes and nocturnal global warming, Science,283, 229−231 (1999)
  10. Howard P.C., Nature Conservation in Uganda’s TropicalForest Reserves, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland (1991)
  11. Bremner J.M., Determination of nitrogen in soil by theKjeldahl method, J. Agric. Sci., 55, 11−33 (1960)
  12. Mehlich A., Mehlich-3 soil test extractant: A modificationof Mehlich-2 extractant, Comm., Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 15,1409−1416 (1984)
  13. Okalebo J.K., Gathua K.W., Woomer P.L., LaboratoryMethods of Soil and Plant Analysis: A Working Manual.Second edition, SACRED-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya (2002)
  14. Nieto V.M. and Rodriguez J., Species discrimination: Intropical tree seed manual; Corporacion Nacional deinvestigación of Santaf’e de Bogote Colombia (2003)
  15. Pritchett W. and Fisher R., Properties and management offorest soil. Second edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NewYork, New York, USA, 494 (1987)
  16. De Ronde C., Impact of prescribed fire on soil properties:comparison with wildfire effects, In: Goldammer JG & MJJenkins (eds); Fire in ecosystem dynamics: Mediterraneanand northern Perspectives: 127-136 (1990)
  17. Diaz-fierros F., Benito E., Vega J.A., Castelao A., Soto B.,Perez R. and Taboada T., Solute loss and soil erosion inburnt soil from Galicia (NW Spain). In: Goldammer, J.G.&Jenkins, M.J. (eds). Fire in ecosystem dynamics:Mediterranean and northern perspectives: 103-116, SPBAcademic Publishing, The Hague, The Netherlands (1990)
  18. Raison R.J., Khanna P.K. and Woods P.V., Mechanisms ofelement transfer to the atmosphere during vegetation fires, Can J For Res., 15, 132-140 (1985)
  19. Macadam A.M., Effects of broadcast slash burning on fuelsand soil chemical properties in the sub-boreal spruce zoneof central British Columbia, Can J For Res., 17, 1577–1584(1987)
  20. Wagner G.H. and Wolf D.C., Carbon transformations andsoil organic matter formation, In: Sylvia, D.M., Fuhrmann,J.J., Hartel, P.G.and Zuberer, D.A. (eds). Principles andapplications of soil microbiology: 218-258 (1998)
  21. Behari J., Microwave dielectric behavior of wet soils:remote sensing and digital image processing, Springer,New Delhi India, 164 (2005)
  22. Trabaud I., The effects of different fire regimes on soilnutrient levels in Quercus coccifera garrigue, In: Kruger,F.J., Mitchell, D.T.and Jarvis, J.U.M. (eds) Mediterraneantypeecosystems: the role of nutrients: 235-243, SpringerVerlag,New York, USA (1983)
  23. DeBano L.F., Neary D.G. and Ffolliott P.F., Fire’s Effectson Ecosystems, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1998)
  24. Wan S., Dafeng H. and Luo Y., Fire effects on nitrogenpools and dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems: a metaanalysis, Ecol Applic, 11, 1349-1365 (2001)
  25. McKee W.H., Changes in soil fertility following prescribedburning on coastal plain pine sites, Asheville, NC: 23(1982)
  26. Campbell R.E., Baker M.B. and Ffolliott P.F., Wildfireeffects on a ponderosa pine ecosystem: An Arizona casestudy, USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-191(1977)