engleski

Forest fire effect on runoff and erosion in young Allepo pine forest

Forest fires are a major environmental concern, especially in Mediterranean region because of its climatic and vegetation characteristics. Mediterranean region is a natural habitat of Aleppo pine and it is a widespread forest species in the southern Croatian islands and the coast. Forest management policies in Croatia encourage establishment Aleppo pine forests because of its conservation purposes: reducing soil erosion and increases vegetation structure. From the other side Aleppo pine has very high burning potential. Wildfires cause extensive damage to Aleppo pine forests ecosystems ; they increase runoff and promote erosion process. The soil erosion on the burned forest areas is extensive. In a very short time after the fire the soil layer which the vegetation was creating for centuries, disappears. The objective of this work was to study the effect of wildfire in a 15 years old Aleppo pine forest on runoff and soil loss caused by rain. After wildfire in summer 2017, samples were taken from stationary erosion plot located near Split (SE of Croatia) ; coordinates: N 43° 31´, E 16° 32´. The plot is established on the eroded rendzina on marl, on the inclination 20°, at 212 m altitude. The experimental plot is set parallel to the inclination. The dimensions of the plot are 20.0 x 5.0 m. It has the container for collecting alluvium and is fenced by cement enclosure. Quantity of rain is directly measured on plot from rain gauge. The erosion danger is very strong on the burned areas of Aleppo pine, on erodible soils, such as the degraded rendzina on the marl. Results showed that the values of surface flow off and soil loss after wildfire - 2017, were significantly higher compared with results achieved in young Aleppo pine forest before wildfire, during 2016.

Aleppo pine, flow off, Mediterranean, soil loss, wildfire

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