Changes and Interactions in Forest Soils After Fire

Influences of forest fires on soils could be both positive and negative depending on the type of the properties of soil while they burn all plant cover in aboveground. Fires impose negative effects on soil organic matter, N content, cation exchange capacity, soil respiration and soil microbial activity when fuel load and fire severity are high. But these negative impacts repair in two-three years depending on fire severity. On the other hand, soil pH, Ca, Mg, P and K contents are positively affected properties of soil from fires. Surface fires can be successfully used as a tool in natural regeneration studies in Mediterranean forests where thick surface litter prevents regeneration.