Atmospheric Losses of Four Plant Nutrients During a Forest Fire

Abstract

SUMMARY Losses to the atmosphere of four nutrient elements, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), caused by slash burning a logged-over mixed forest coupe in the Florentine Valley in Tasmania, were estimated by weighing and sampling the slash on marked plots before and after the fire. The estimated losses, in kg ha—1, were: P—10, K—51, Ca—100 and Mg—37. As a percentage of the nutrients in the fuel consumed, the losses were: P—18%, K—17%, Ca—12%, Mg—29%.