Runoff and erosion from volcanic soils affected by fire: the case

MORALES, D., C.M. ROSTAGNO & L. LA MANNA

PLANT AND SOIL

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 vol. 364 p. 3 - 16

0032-079X

Aims We characterized the runoff and erosion from a volcanic soil in an Austrocedrus chilensis forest affected by a wildfire, and we evaluated the effects of a mitigation treatment. Methods Rainfall simulations were performed in the unburned and burned forest, with and without vegetation cover, and under a mitigation treatment. Results After the wildfire, the mean infiltration rate decreased from 100 mmh−1 in unburned soils to 51 and 64 mmh−1 in the burned with and without litter and vegetation cover, respectively. The fast establishment of bryophytes accelerated the recovery of soil stability. Sediment production was negligible in the control plots (4.4 gm−2); meanwhile in the burned plots, it was 118.7 gm−2 and increased to 1026.1 g m−2 in the burned and bare plots. Total C and N losses in the control plots were negligible, while in the burned and bare plots the organic C and total N removed were 98.25 and 1.64 gm2, respectively. The effect of mitigation treatment was efficient in reducing the runoff, but it did not affect the sediment production. Conclusions These fertile volcanic soils promoted the recovery of vegetation in a short time after the wildfire, diminishing the risk of erosion.