Effects of Fire on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil in Fwangnin Bokkos District, Nigeria
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Geography, Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria
 
2
Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
 
3
Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
 
4
University of Rwanda, College of Education, Kigali, Rwanda
 
 
Submission date: 2024-09-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-10-24
 
 
Publication date: 2024-10-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Solomon Zitta Wuyep   

wuyepsol@yahoo.com
 
 
Trends in Ecological and Indoor Environmental Engineering, 2024;2(3):42-49
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Vegetation burning, a common agricultural practice, has both positive and negative effects on soil fertility. Soil quality, which is critical for ecosystems, shapes biodiversity and productivity, while increased temperatures from vegetation burning can alter conditions for seed germination by reducing nutrient availability.

Objectives:
The study aims to assess the impacts of vegetation burning on soil fertility in Fwangnin, Bokkos, Nigeria, through experimental investigation of the effects of burning on both the chemical and physical properties of soil. The results are expected to contribute to the development of adaptive fire management strategies in land use, and the results will also help monitor soil changes in order to maintain long-term soil fertility.

Methods:
Using purposive sampling, four 500-gram soil samples were taken from 0 – 15 cm depth in burned and unburned areas. The samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Traditional well-proven methods were used for the analysis.

Results:
It was found that the pH of the burnt soil samples ranged from 6.10 to 5.90, while that of the unburnt samples ranged from 5.73 to 5.81; a significant increase in pH occurs at higher combustion temperatures, which increases the alkalinity of the soil due to the alkaline properties of ash. The electrical conductivity value for the samples in the burnt areas was significantly higher (0.08 mS/cm and 0.10 mS/cm) compared to the healthy soil (0.07 mS/cm and 0.09 mS/cm), which can be explained by the release of mineral ions due to the combustion of organic matter. The study found a decrease in organic carbon content in the burnt soil, a significant deficiency of nitrogen and a decrease in the cation exchange capacity, which contributes to the depletion of the fertile layer and a decrease in the ability of the soil to retain essential nutrients. Increased levels of organic phosphorus were also found in burnt soils, which contributes to improved crop growth and increased yields in the short term.

Conclusion:
The current study has filled the gap in deep understanding of the impact of vegetation burning on the fertile properties of agricultural soils. Namely, it has been experimentally established and confirmed by the results of similar studies and statistical analysis that while vegetation burning remains a common agricultural practice in Fwangnin, the long-term implications for soil fertility, structure, and ecosystem health are significant. The soil degradation observed in this study suggests that continued reliance on burning as a land-clearing method may undermine agricultural productivity and environmental integrity over time.
REFERENCES (53)
1.
Alcañiz, M., Outeiro, L., Francos, M., Farguell, J., & Úbeda, X. (2016). Long-term dynamics of soil chemical properties after a prescribed fire in a Mediterranean forest (Montgrí Massif, Catalonia, Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 572, 1329–1335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
 
2.
Ambe, B. A., Eja, I. E., & Agbor, C. E. (2015). Assessment of the impacts and people's perception of bush burning on the grasslands and montane ecosystems of the Obanliku Hills/Plateau, Cross River state, Nigeria. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 5(6), 12–20.
 
3.
Badia, D., & Marti, C. (2003). Plant ash and heat intensity effects on chemical and physical properties of two contrasting soils. Arid Land Resource. Management, 17, 23–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/153249....
 
4.
Baldock, J. A., & Nelson, P. N. (20000. Soil organic matter. Handbook of Soil Science. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. USA p. B25-B84. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/p....
 
5.
Banj, D., Shafiei, A., Akbarinia, M., Jalali, G.H., & Alijanpour, A. (2010). Effect of forest fire on diameter growth of beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.): a case study in Kheyroud forest. Iran Journal for Forest and Population Resources, 17, 464–474.
 
6.
Bárcenas-Moreno, G., Rousk, J., & Bååth, E. (2011). Fungal and bacterial recolonisation of acid and alkaline forest soils following artificial heat treatments. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43(5), 1023–1033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soil....
 
7.
Bond, W. J. (2016). Ancient grasslands at risk. Science, 351(6269), 120–122. https://doi.org/10.1126/scienc....
 
8.
Carpenter, S. R., Caraco, N. F., Correll, D. L., Howarth, R. W., Sharpley, A. N., & Smith, V. H. (1998). Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecological applications, 8(3), 559–568. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0....
 
9.
Certini, G. (2005). Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review. Oecologia, 143, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442....
 
10.
Chungu, D., Ng’andwe, P., Mubanga, H., & Chileshe, F. (2020). Fire alters the availability of soil nutrients and accelerates growth of Eucalyptus grandis in Zambia. Journal of Forestry Research, 31(5), 1637–1645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676....
 
11.
DeBano, L. F., Neary, D. G., & Ffolliott, P. F. (2005). Soil physical properties. Wildland fire in ecosystems, 29–52.
 
12.
Dennis, E. I., Usoroh, A. D., & Ijah, C. J. (2013). Soil properties dynamics induced by passage of fire during agricultural burning. International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research, 1, 43–52.
 
13.
Dung-Gwom, J. Y., Gontul, T. K., Galadima, J. S., Gyang, J. D., & Baklit, G. (2009). A field guide manual of Plateau State. Berom Historical Publication. Jos, 14–20.
 
14.
Edwin, A. G. (2008). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation Assessment. Reports of the USDA Forest Service General, Ogden, 29–52.
 
15.
Eggleton, R., & Taylor, G. (2008). Impact of Fire on the Weipa Bauxite, Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Science, 55(Supplementary), S83–S86. https://doi.org/10.1080/081200....
 
16.
Ferran, A., Delitti, W., & Vallejo, V. R. (2005). Effects of fire recurrence in Quercus coccifera L. shrublands of the Valencia Region (Spain): II. plant and soil nutrients. Plant Ecology, 177, 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258....
 
17.
FOA (2018). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2018.
 
18.
Fonseca, F., de Figueiredo, T., Nogueira, C., & Queirós, A. (2017). Effect of prescribed fire on soil properties and soil erosion in a Mediterranean mountain area. Geoderma, 307, 172–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
 
19.
Francos, M., Pereira, P., Alcañiz, M., & Úbeda, X. (2018). Post-wildfire management effects on short-term evolution of soil properties (Catalonia, Spain, SW-Europe). Science of the Total Environment, 633, 285–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
 
20.
Gerenfes, D., Giorgis, A., & Negasa, G. (2022). Comparison of organic matter determination methods in soil by loss on ignition and potassium dichromate method. International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science, 4(1), 49–53.
 
21.
González-Pérez, J. A., González-Vila, F. J., Almendros, G., & Knicker, H. (2004). The effect of fire on soil organic matter—a review. Environment international, 30(6), 855–870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envi....
 
22.
Granged, A. J. P., Zavala, L. M., Jordan, A., & Barcenas-Moreno, G. (2011). Post-fire evolution of soil properties and vegetation cover in a Mediterranean heathland after experimental burning: a 3-year study. Geoderma, 164, 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
 
23.
Hille, M., & den Ouden, J. (2005). Fuel load, humus consumption and humus moisture dynamics in Central European Scots pine stands. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 14(2), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF0402....
 
24.
Inbar, A., Lado, M., Sternberg, M., Tenau, H., & Ben-Hur, M. (2014). Forest fire effects on soil chemical and physicochemical properties, infiltration, runoff, and erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean region. Geoderma, 221, 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
 
25.
Jamala, G. Y., Boni, P. G., Abraham, P., & Teru, C. P. (2012). Evaluation of environmental and vulnerability impact of bush burning in southern guinea savanna of Adamawa state, Nigeria. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2(3), 359–369. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJEA/2....
 
26.
Kalbitz, K., Solinger, S., Park, J. H., Michalzik, B., & Matzner, E. (2000). Controls on the dynamics of dissolved organic matter in soils: a review. Soil science, 165(4), 277–304.
 
27.
Kemmitt, S. J., Wright, D., Goulding, K. W., & Jones, D. L. (2006). pH regulation of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in two agricultural soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38(5), 898–911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soil....
 
28.
Ketterings, Q. M., & Bigham, J. M. (2000). Soil color as an indicator of slash‐and‐burn fire severity and soil fertility in Sumatra, Indonesia. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64(5), 1826–1833. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2....
 
29.
Kowaljow, E., Morales, M. S., Whitworth‐Hulse, J. I., Zeballos, S. R., Giorgis, M. A., Rodríguez Catón, M., & Gurvich, D. E. (2019). A 55‐year‐old natural experiment gives evidence of the effects of changes in fire frequency on ecosystem properties in a seasonal subtropical dry forest. Land degradation & development, 30(3), 266–277. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.32....
 
30.
Kutiel, P., & Inbar, M. (1993). Fire impacts on soil nutrients and soil erosion in a Mediterranean pine forest plantation. Catena, 20(1–2), 129–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/0341-8....
 
31.
Lehmann, C. E., Archibald, S. A., Hoffmann, W. A., & Bond, W. J. (2011). Deciphering the distribution of the savanna biome. New Phytologist, 191(1), 197–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469....
 
32.
Martin, D. A., & Moody, J. A. (2001). Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds. Hydrological Processess, 15, 2893–2903. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.38....
 
33.
Mehdi, H., Ali, S., Ali, M., & Mostafa, A. (2012). Effects of different fire severity levels on soil chemical and physical properties in Zagros forests of western Iran. Available: https://open.icm.edu.pl/handle....
 
34.
Mitros, C., McIntyre, S., & Moscato-Goodpaster, B. (2002). Annual burning affects soil pH and total nitrogen content in the CERA oak woodlands. Tillers, 3, 29–32. Available: https://digital-grinnell.nyc3.....
 
35.
Mwale, P., Khan, T., & Ndlovu, M. (2008). Effects of bush burning on ecosystem dynamics in Southern Africa. Environmental Science Journal, 20(4), 321–334.
 
36.
National Population Commission (NPC) (2006) Abuja national population commission federal republic of Nigeria. Population Census, Figure.
 
37.
Neill, C., Patterson III, W. A., & Crary Jr, D. W. (2007). Responses of soil carbon, nitrogen and cations to the frequency and seasonality of prescribed burning in a Cape Cod oak-pine forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 250(3), 234–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fore....
 
38.
Obale-Ebanga, F., Sevink, J., deGroot, W., & Nolte, C. (2003). Myths of slash and burn on physical degradation of savannah soils: impacts on Vertisols in north Cameroon. Soil use Management, 19, 83–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475....
 
39.
Osborne, C. P., Charles‐Dominique, T., Stevens, N., Bond, W. J., Midgley, G., & Lehmann, C. E. (2018). Human impacts in African savannas are mediated by plant functional traits. New Phytologist, 220(1), 10–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15....
 
40.
Pereira, P., Cerda, A., Martin, D., Úbeda, X., Depellegrin, D., Novara, A., ... & Miesel, J. (2017). Short-term low-severity spring grassland fire impacts on soil extractable elements and soil ratios in Lithuania. Science of the Total Environment, 578, 469–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
 
41.
Pereira, P., Francos, M., Brevik, E. C., Ubeda, X., & Bogunovic, I. (2018). Post-fire soil management. Current Opinion in Environment Science and Health, 5, 26–32. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coes....
 
42.
Schoonover, J. E., & Crim, J. F. (2015). An introduction to soil concepts and the role of soils in watershed management. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 154(1), 21–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936....
 
43.
Simard, D. G., Fyles, J. W., Paré, D., & Nguyen, T. (2001). Impacts of clearcut harvesting and wildfire on soil nutrient status in the Quebec boreal forest. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 81(2), 229–237. https://doi.org/10.4141/S00-02....
 
44.
Six, J., Conant, R. T., Paul, E. A., & Paustian, K. (2002). Stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter: implications for C-saturation of soils. Plant and soil, 241, 155–176. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016....
 
45.
Suding, K., Higgs, E., Palmer, M., Callicott, J. B., Anderson, C. B., Baker, M., ... & Schwartz, K. Z. (2015). Committing to ecological restoration. Science, 348(6235), 638–640. https://doi.org/10.1126/scienc....
 
46.
Tabi, F. O., AD, M. Z., Boukong, A., Mvondo, R. J., & Nkoum, G. (2013). Changes in soil properties following slash and burn agriculture in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(18), 1990–1995. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR12....
 
47.
Terefe, T., Mariscal-Sancho, I., Peregrina, F., & Espejo, R. (2008). Influence of heating on various properties of six Mediterranean soils. A laboratory study. Geoderma, 143(3–4), 273–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
 
48.
Thomaz, E. L., & Fachin, P. A. (2014). Effects of heating on soil physical properties by using realistic peak temperature gradients. Geoderma, 230, 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
 
49.
Valderrama, L., Contreras-Reyes, J. E., & Carrasco, R. (2018). Ecological impact of forest fires and subsequent restoration in Chile. Resources, 7(2), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/resour....
 
50.
Verma, S., Singh, D., Singh, A. K., & Jayakumar, S. (2019). Post-fire soil nutrient dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India. Forest. Ecosystem, 6(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663....
 
51.
Wuyep, S. Z., Jatau, S., & Williams, J. J. (2022). Deforestation and Management Strategies in Bokkos LGA Plateau State, Nigeria. Environmental Issues and National Development, 372–384.
 
52.
Zhao, J., Ren, T., Zhang, Q., Du, Z., & Wang, Y. (2016). Effects of biochar amendment on soil thermal properties in the North China Plain. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 80(5), 1157–1166. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2....
 
53.
Zitta, W. S., Sarah, J., & Jack, K. K. (2022). Physio-Chemical Properties of Soil in Ganawuri, Plateau State, Nigeria. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 6(3), 333–339. https://doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa....
 
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top