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Article

Effects of Low-Severity Fire on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in an Andean Páramo in Southern Ecuador

by
Vinicio Carrión-Paladines
1,*,
Andreas Fries
2,
María Belén Hinojosa
3,
Andy Oña
1,
Leticia Jiménez Álvarez
1,
Ángel Benítez
1,
Fausto López Rodríguez
1 and
Roberto García-Ruiz
4
1
Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n C.P., Loja 11-01-608, Ecuador
2
Departamento de Geología, Minas e Ingeniería Civil (DGMIC), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, Loja 11-01-608, Ecuador
3
Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Fábricas de Armas, 45071 Toledo, Spain
4
Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Sección de Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Fire 2023, 6(12), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6120447
Submission received: 9 October 2023 / Revised: 12 November 2023 / Accepted: 16 November 2023 / Published: 22 November 2023
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Abstract

The high Andean páramos (AnP) are unique ecosystems that harbor high biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services, such as water supply and regulation, as well as carbon sequestration. In southern Ecuador, this ecosystem is threatened by anthropogenic burning activities to create pastures and agricultural land. However, knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties and nutrient availability is still limited. This study conducted an experimental burn with different ignition patterns on an AnP plateau in southern Ecuador. Fire behavior (flame height, propagation speed, temperature reached on the soil), and fire severity were evaluated. In addition, soil samples were collected at 10 cm depth both 24 h and one year after the burns to measure the effects of fire on the main physico-chemical properties. The results indicate that the low severity of the experimental burns did not affect the physico-chemical properties of the soils, and therefore, soil quality was not altered. These results can help decision makers in the design of policies, regulations, and proposals for the conservation and environmental restoration of AnPs affected by wildfires in southern Ecuador.
Keywords: Andean páramo; fire ecology; low-severity fire; soil nutrient dynamics Andean páramo; fire ecology; low-severity fire; soil nutrient dynamics

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MDPI and ACS Style

Carrión-Paladines, V.; Fries, A.; Hinojosa, M.B.; Oña, A.; Álvarez, L.J.; Benítez, Á.; Rodríguez, F.L.; García-Ruiz, R. Effects of Low-Severity Fire on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in an Andean Páramo in Southern Ecuador. Fire 2023, 6, 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6120447

AMA Style

Carrión-Paladines V, Fries A, Hinojosa MB, Oña A, Álvarez LJ, Benítez Á, Rodríguez FL, García-Ruiz R. Effects of Low-Severity Fire on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in an Andean Páramo in Southern Ecuador. Fire. 2023; 6(12):447. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6120447

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carrión-Paladines, Vinicio, Andreas Fries, María Belén Hinojosa, Andy Oña, Leticia Jiménez Álvarez, Ángel Benítez, Fausto López Rodríguez, and Roberto García-Ruiz. 2023. "Effects of Low-Severity Fire on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in an Andean Páramo in Southern Ecuador" Fire 6, no. 12: 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6120447

APA Style

Carrión-Paladines, V., Fries, A., Hinojosa, M. B., Oña, A., Álvarez, L. J., Benítez, Á., Rodríguez, F. L., & García-Ruiz, R. (2023). Effects of Low-Severity Fire on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in an Andean Páramo in Southern Ecuador. Fire, 6(12), 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6120447

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