Phosphorus enrichment from point to catchment scale following fire in eucalypt forests

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

LANE, P.N.J.

Dep. of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Univ., Melbourne, Australie

NOSKE, P.J.

Dep. of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Univ., Melbourne, Australie

SHERIDAN, G.J.

Dep. of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Univ., Melbourne, Australie

Description :
In a study in wet eucalypt forests burnt by wildfire, phosphorus concentration on mineral sediment and organic material at the point (0.01 m2), plot (1–10 m2) and catchment (106 m2) was used to estimate enrichment ratios (ERs) over 2 scales. The data revealed ERs of 1.5 from point to plot and 2 from plot to catchment. These ratios are relatively low compared with other studies. The AA. suggest the principal reason is short transport pathways which act to decrease deposition, due to the spatial heterogeneity of post-burn soil hydraulic properties. The association of total phosphorus with mineral material was slightly higher than with organic matter. The study suggests that using plot scale hillslope experiments to infer sediment and nutrient loss after wildfire would have overestimated losses by around 100%.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2011, vol. 87, n°. 1, p. 157-162, nombre de pages : 6, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais