Vulnerability of soil organic matter to microbial decomposition as a consequence of burning
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Vulnerability of soil organic matter to microbial decomposition as a consequence of burning Gerald P. Dicen . Roland V. Rallos . John Leonard R. Labides . Ian A. Navarrete
Received: 9 August 2019 / Accepted: 11 July 2020 Ó Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Ecosystem fires are stochastic and anthropogenic phenomena that affect critical soil processes. Nevertheless, environmental managers, policy-makers, and even scientists have often overlooked the induced transformations that fire does to soil organic matter (SOM), which sustains an ecosystem’s overall health. Here, we investigated the effects of simulated fire conditions on bulk SOM, water-extractable organic matter (WEOM), and vulnerability to microbial degradation. Sequential thermal decomposition experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of increasing temperature on C, N, d13C, and d15N of bulk SOM and WEOM. A microbial decomposition experiment was also done to determine the effects of burning on SOM degradability. Intermediate-intensity Responsible Editor: Steven Perakis.
burns caused significant decreases in C and N concentrations in soils, as well as alterations in bulk SOM and WEOM properties. Conversely, the effects of low-intensity burns were less apparent in terms of bulk SOM content and stable C and N isotope composition. However, the results of the microbial decomposition experiment revealed that low-intensity burning resulted in elevated CO2 emission that were significantly correlated with C concentration, d13C values, and the C/N ratio of WEOM. These results provide evidence that low-intensity burning can have important consequences for soils, altering its organic components and releasing significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Thus, particular focus must be given to managing ecosystem fires and evaluating their impacts, especially because fire is still widely used in agriculture and forest management with frequency projected to increase in the coming years.
G. P. Dicen (&) R. V. Rallos J. L. R. Labides Agriculture Research Section, Atomic Research Division, Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Carbon emission Fire Greenhouse gases Soil organic matter microbial decomposition Stable isotopes Water-extractable organic matter
I. A. Navarrete Deparment of Environmental Science, Southern Leyte State University-Hinunangan Campus, 6608 Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, Philippines
Introduction
I. A. Navarrete School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City, Philippines
Fire is an essential disturbance that shapes and sustains biomes. Whether borne by natural hazards or human activities, deliberate or accidental, fire affects the ecological balance in, and the services provided by, a
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Biogeochemistry
given ecosystem. It also releases significant amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere
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