The determination of temporal changes in the some physical and chemical properties of soil due to forest fire in Canakkale (Eceabat)

The change of the physico-chemical properties of soils caused by fires can be considered as one of the leading factor for land degradation, especially in a Mediterranean type ecosystems. The study sites is located in a Mediterranean ecosystem dominated by Pinus brutia southern Marmara, Turkey (Akbas, Canakkale). Soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0-5 cm depth) of the burnt and unburnt areas, 1 month, 1, 2 and 3 years after the wildfire. Texture, aggregate stability, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), lime (CaCO3), organic matter and available element contents (P, K, Ca, and Mg) were analyzed in the soil samples. Differences were not observed in clay, silt and sand contents of burnt and unburnt soils in research site. Although aggregate stability and pH contents of burnt soils were higher than unburnt soils in Akbas, no statistically significant difference was found. EC, organic matter, P, K, Ca, and Mg contents of burnt soils compared to unburnt soils increased. CaCO3 contents of unburnt sections of Akbas were respectively 1.65 times higher than burnt section