@article{fdi:010060822,
  title = {{T}rends in recovery of mediterranean soil chemical properties and microbial activities after infrequent and frequent wildfires},
  author = {{G}uenon, {R}. and {V}ennetier, {M}. and {D}upuy, {N}. and {R}oussos, {S}evastianos and {P}ailler, {A}. and {G}ros, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}ince the 1970s, increase in fire frequency has been observed in all {E}uropean {M}editerranean regions. {T}he objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of wildfire frequency on the recovery at short- and long-term of soil chemical and microbial properties and (2) to identify the mechanisms underlying the recovery of these sites properties. {S}oils from 17 plots ({M}aures mountains range, {V}ar, {F}rance) were classified into 5 wildfire regimes (i.e. not burned since at least 57 years ago, infrequently and frequently burned-with time since fire between 4 and 17 years). {S}oil samples from these plots were analysed for their nutrient content, chemical functions of soil organic matter ({SOM}) using {FT}-{MIR} spectroscopy and microbial mineralising activities. {O}ur results showed that the frequent wildfire regime slowed down the recovery in the short term of {SOM} spectroscopic properties and nutrient availability. {B}oth low quantity and low quality (i.e. high percentage of aromatic and phenolic organic forms) of soil organic matter were found to be related to soil microbial recovery at 4 years after frequent wildfires. {T}he frequent wildfires improved the recovery in net nitrification and nitrate content, leading to an increase in catabolic evenness and a recovery in microbial {C}-substrate utilisation profiles between 4 and 17 years. {H}owever, frequent wildfires slowed down the recovery of hydrolytic enzyme pool (i.e. {FDA} hydrolases) and phenol oxidase activity, both involved in soil {C} cycling. {O}verall, our observations suggest that 4 fires in 50 years is a threshold beyond which soil quality may be endangered.},
  keywords = {recurrent wildfires ; resilience ; enzyme activities ; {B}iolog ({R}) ; {N}-mineralisation ; {FT}-{MIR} spectroscopy ; {M}editerranean regions ; {ZONE} {MEDITERRANNEENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{L}and {D}egradation and {D}evelopment},
  volume = {24},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {115--128},
  ISSN = {1085-3278},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1002/ldr.1109},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060822},
}