Esmaeil Sheidai Karkaj; isa jafari; roghayeh jahdi
Abstract
Fires are one of the most important factors affecting natural ecosystems. This study was done in order to investigate the effects of fire on soil chemical properties, soil seed bank and vegetation cover in Yeke Bermagh, Highland ranegelands in the southern part of Golestan National Park. After determination ...
Read More
Fires are one of the most important factors affecting natural ecosystems. This study was done in order to investigate the effects of fire on soil chemical properties, soil seed bank and vegetation cover in Yeke Bermagh, Highland ranegelands in the southern part of Golestan National Park. After determination of control and burned area, sampling was done with 5 transects and 5 plots. Vegetation cover, density and production were recorded in each site. One plot was chosen for analysis of soil chemical properties and soil seed bank along transects. Sampling for seed soil bank determination was accomplished in two depths, 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm. In order to distinguish the differences between the two depths in each site, the independent t-test, and pair t-test were used. Comparison of soil properties in the two control and burned areas showed that pH, potassium, nitrogen, phosphors, carbon, EC and CEC in the burned area was more than control area. According to the results the amount of richness and diversity of seed bank in the control area was higher than the burned area. Furthermore, richness and diversity in the first depth was more than the second depth, in both areas.
Mina Bashmaghi; Reza Erfanzadeh; Mahdi Abedi
Abstract
In the current study, the variation of soil seed bank density was evaluated in two different fire severities, i.e. low and high. Soil sampling was done in Sharlegh site, Golestan national park. Therefore, 5 soil samples for both grass patches and shrub patches in each burnt and control sites were selected. ...
Read More
In the current study, the variation of soil seed bank density was evaluated in two different fire severities, i.e. low and high. Soil sampling was done in Sharlegh site, Golestan national park. Therefore, 5 soil samples for both grass patches and shrub patches in each burnt and control sites were selected. In burnt sites, grass and shrub patches were considered as low and high fire severities, respectively. For data analysis, GLMM and T test were applied.The seed germination method was used in green house to identify soil seeds. Altough, the results of statistical R software indicated that avrage soil seed bank density in burnt-site (74.5) had no significant difference compared with unburnt-site (132.3); however, fire had significant effect on plant functional groups. The results showed that soil seed bank density of different plant functional groups were affected differently by fire severities,. Total seedlings of annual forb was increased (1785 to 3543)and decreased (5000 to 1471) in low and high fire severities, respectively. Total seedlings of pernnial grasses were significantly decreased (7114 to 842.9) in low fire severity while high fire severity had no significant effect on perennial grasses seed bank density. Fire severity had no significant influence on soil seed bank richness. Our results indicated that the surface and severity of fire should be included and interpreted in the future studies.
