Humic acids as markers of soil organic matter quality in fire affected soils subjected to a mulching treatment

摘要

Mulching is an effective treatment of post-fire soil erosion.However,little is known concerning its effects on soil organic matter(SOM)composition and properties.This study evaluated the long-term effects of forest residue mulch on the molecular composition of humic acids from a burnt eucalypt plantation in central Portugal.Mulching treatment increased the abundance of organic carbon and humics acids extracted five years after the wildfire.The molecular composition of soil samples indicated that mulching may help the recovery of the most labile fractions of fire affected soils.In addition,the composition of the HA extracted from both mulched and untreated fire affected plots was very similar.