Forest fires have important influences on chemical properties of soils in permafrost regions, and changes in soil characteristics affected by forest fires are related with fire severity and post-fire recovery time.
However, the research on the fire-induced changes in carbon and other nutrients of soils has received much less attention, particularly that of soils in the active layer and near-surface permafrost.
Recently, a research group from Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated the effects of forest fires on soil nutrients of larch forest soils in the discontinuous permafrost zone in the northern Da Xing'anling (Hinggan) Mountains.
They analyzed the pH value, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents at sites affected by different fires in two areas in the Da Xing'anling Mountains.
The results suggest that the forest fire has greatly changed total organic carbon contents and also other nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents.
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