Investigation of spatial and temporal changes of plant nutrients in burned forest soil in Çanakkale-Çinarli

This study was carried out in Çanakkale-Intepe region soils (1514 ha) which was burned in August 2008. Soil samples were taken from 6 different locations at 5 different times (20th day, one month, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months after the fire). Samples were taken from burned and adjacent unburned soils with in three replications. Plant nutrient contents of burned and unburned soils were determined and statistical analyzes were done using SAS. Soil phosphorous contents of burned soils increased up to 12 times compared to unburned soils. Similarly soil nitrogen, sodium, calcium and magnesium of burned soils were higher than those of unburned soils. Soil pH decreased in burned soils. The most distinct differences were obtained for potassium contents of burned soils which were higher than unburned soil. Soil micro nutrients such as iron and manganese were higher in burned samples depending on their location and sampling time.Keywords: Forest fire, soil, plant nutrient, nitrogen, calcium, iron, potassium