The definition of change in soil properties in a scots pine and black pine mixed stand following surface fire: Ilgaz-Hizardere department of forestry example

Forest fire is a natural phenomenon which has importance on a global scale. Fires have potential to compose many effects on forest soil which is important component of forest ecosystem. This study has been carried out to define surface fires effects on soil properties following the surface fire having occurred in scots pine and black pine stand which is in the borders of Ilgaz, Çankırı in October, 2012. Ten months after the fire, both taken from 0-10 cm depth, 35 samples of soil exposed to fire effect and 35 samples of soil none exposed to fire effect have been analyses. In laboratory investigation, soil samples, in terms of physical properties (%sand, %silt, %clay, bulk density, field capacity, wilting point, plant available water content, aggregation index) and chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter and CaCO3 contents) have been analyzed with two parallels. Correlation analyze has been evaluated for the soil samples classified as both exposed to fire and not exposed to fire. t-test analyze for the samples has been made to define effect of ground fire on soil properties. It has been calculated that values of bulk density, electrical conductivity and sand in the samples exposed to fire are statistically more different than the samples not exposed to fire. It has been determined that apart from some soil properties, surface fire having occurred in short time hasn't caused any variable changes in soil properties. It is considered that the result supplied will contribute to the future studies in the area.