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Fuel load, humus consumption and humus moisture dynamics in Central European Scots pine stands

Authors :
J. den Ouden
Marco G. Hille
Source :
International Journal of Wildland Fire 14 (2005) 2, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 14(2), 153-159
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

Samples of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) humus were burned under different moisture and fuel load scenarios to model humus consumption. For moisture levels below 120% on a dry mass basis, a parabolic increase of humus remaining with increasing moisture content was observed while, for higher moisture levels up to 300%, humus was reduced by a constant 10–15% on a dry mass basis. Both fuel load and humus moisture had a highly significant influence on humus consumption. Humus gross calorific value of Scots pine (19 509 KJ kg–1) is lower than that of other pine species. We found a desorption time-lag for humus moisture of 85 h in this study. Field data show a steady accumulation of humus in Central European Scots pine stands (up to 45 t ha–1 in 120-year-old stands). Amounts of litter remain constant over the different stand ages (~15 t ha–1). This study provides important information to predict humus consumption in Scots pine stands. The results can be used to build a fire severity and post-fire succession model for Scots pine stands in Central Europe.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10498001
Volume :
14
Issue :
2
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Wildland Fire
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....35dac66f6f0092b4efc8b2ff87d3a5b0