Effect of Forest Fire on Soil Nutrients in Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson) Ecosystems

Forest fire is recognized as one of the major natural disaster, damaging huge forest and grassland areas worldwide. Fire can change plant composition, devastate biomass, alter soil physical and chemical properties and decrease nutrient pools. In recent years, Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) forests in South Kashmir are experiencing a heavy loss due to fire with respect to damage to undergrowth and disturbance in soil nutrient status. An assessment of damage in terms of ecological and economic attributes due to fire is deemed to be much. The frequency of fire is rising as biotic pressure on forest resources. This study demonstrates assessment of soil macro-nutrient alteration on sites on burnt with unburnt sites. The study sites are in South circle of Kashmir division in Jammu and Kashmir State of India. Our samples show 60% less soil carbon at 0-30 cm depth in burnt sites against their respective unburnt sites, Available soil nitrogen concentration was 35.28% lower on burnt sites, Available soil phosphorus was 38.89 % higher in burnt than unburnt sites and available soil potassium was 29.66 % higher on burnt sites in comparison to unburnt sites. Some implications of these results for forest managers are discussed. Organic carbon and nitrogen decreased in burnt areas while as potassium and phosphorus concentration witnesses an increase in burnt sites.