| Popis: |
We quantified fire-driven loss and post-fire recovery of understory and soil carbon (C) and nutrient pools for one to three years following a single prescribed fire in a naturally regenerated longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) forest located in north central Florida. Fire immediately reduced total aboveground understory C and nitrogen (N) pools, but these pools recovered to pre-fire levels after three years. Our results also showed that the effect of fire on the understory composition and structure was only short-lived. Prescribed fire significantly reduced total C and N pools in the forest floor (F and H horizons), and this effect persisted for at least one year postfire. Available NH4+, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2, and K+ concentrations in the forest floor decreased immediately after fire, but increased in the surface mineral soil (O to 5 cm depth); Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ remained elevated for the first year after fire. Fire immediately reduced total ecos... |
