Effect of Fire on Chemical Forms of Iron and Manganese in Forest Soils of Iran

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fire on forms of iron and manganese in forest soils of Iran. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–3, 3–6, and 6–9 cm). Results of this study indicated that forest fire significantly increased sand, pH, and electrical conductively (EC) and significantly decreased clay, organic carbon (OC), and cations exchange capacity (CEC) in comparison with unburned soil. Significant effect of the fire was limited to first (0–3 cm) and second (3–6 cm) depths, decreasing with increasing the depth. Furthermore, the fire significantly decreased organic bound, pyrophosphate extractable iron form that can be related to increase in pH. The fire significantly decreased available iron form that can be related to decreasing of clay, OC, and CEC. Keywords: available form of ironburned soilextractable manganesemicronutrientorganic bound ironsoil pH