Soil respiration and root biomass responses to burning in Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) stands in Edirne, Turkey

Tufekcioglu A., Kucuk M., Bilmis T., Altun L., Yilmaz M.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY, cilt.31, ss.15-19, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 31
  • Basım Tarihi: 2010
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.15-19
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this study, soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed fire were investigated in 25-30 year-old calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) stands in Edirne, Turkey The stands were established by planting and were subjected to prescribed burning in July, 2005. Soil respiration rates were determined every two months using the soda-lime method over a two-year period. Fine (>= 2 mm diameter) and small root (> 2-5 mm diameter) biomass were sampled approximately bimonthly using the sequential coring method. Soil respiration rates in burned sites were significantly higher than in control sites during the summer season but there was no significant difference in the other seasons. Soil respiration rates were correlated significantly with soil moisture and soil temperature. Fine and small root biomass were significantly lower in burned sites than in control sites. Mean fine root biomass values were 3204 kg ha(-1) for burned and 3772 kg ha(-1) for control sites. Annual soil CO2 releases totaled 515 g C m(-2) for burned and 418 g C m(-2) for control sites. Our results indicate that, depending on site conditions, fire could be used successfully as a tool in the management of calabrian pine stands in the study area.