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Formation of post-fire water-repellent layers in Monterrey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations in south-central Chile
Garcia-Chevesich, P.; Pizarro, R.; Stropki, C. L.; Ramirez de Arellano, P.; Ffolliott, P. F.; DeBano, L. F.; Neary, D. G.; Slack, D. C. 2010. Formation of post-fire water-repellent layers in Monterrey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations in south-central Chile. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 10(4): 399-406.
A wildfire burned about 15,000 ha of Monterrey Pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations near Yungay, Chile, in January of 2007. Post-fire water repellency (hydrophobicity) was measured using the water-drop-penetration-time (WDPT) method at depths of 0, 5, and 10 mm from the soil surface. These measurements were collected on burned sites of both young (4-years old) and old (11-years old) plantations having both sand- and clay-rich soils. For purpose of comparison, water repellency was also measured one year after the wildfire on four unburned sites representing the same soil types and plantation ages as those occurring on the burned sites. The statistical analyses indicated that water repellency was present only on old stands, being located on the soil surface (clay soils) or as a layer 10 mm deeper or below (sandy soils). However, a water repellent layer was found on young stands growing on sandy soils, five millimeters below the surface, assumed to be formed when a wildfire burned the area before the new plantation was established.
Keywords: soil hydrophobicity, fire effects, wetting behavior
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Title: RMRS Other
Publications: Formation of post-fire water-repellent layers in
Monterrey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations in south-central
Electronic Publish Date: September 12, 2011
Last Update: September 12, 2011
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