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Authors
Affiliations
1 Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 006, IN
2 Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer Campus, Panthaghati, Shimla, HP 171 009, IN
3 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (Campus Wadura) Sopore J&K-193 201, IN
4 Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Badodra, Gujarat-388 306, IN
Source
Indian Forester, Vol 141, No 4 (2015), Pagination: 355-360
Abstract
Forest fire is recognized as one of the major natural disaster, damaging huge forest and grassland areas worldwide. Fire can change plant composition, devastate biomass, alter soil physical and chemical properties and decrease nutrient pools. In recent years, Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) forests in South Kashmir are experiencing a heavy loss due to fire with respect to damage to undergrowth and disturbance in soil nutrient status. An assessment of damage in terms of ecological and economic attributes due to fire is deemed to be much. The frequency of fire is rising as biotic pressure on forest resources. This study demonstrates assessment of soil macro-nutrient alteration on sites on burnt with unburnt sites. The study sites are in South circle of Kashmir division in Jammu and Kashmir State of India. Our samples show 60% less soil carbon at 0-30 cm depth in burnt sites against their respective unburnt sites, Available soil nitrogen concentration was 35.28% lower on burnt sites, Available soil phosphorus was 38.89 % higher in burnt than unburnt sites and available soil potassium was 29.66 % higher on burnt sites in comparison to unburnt sites. Some implications of these results for forest managers are discussed. Organic carbon and nitrogen decreased in burnt areas while as potassium and phosphorus concentration witnesses an increase in burnt sites.
Keywords
Fire, Soil Nutrients, Blue Pine, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.
