<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Effects of wildfire on soil nutrients in Mediterranean ecosystems</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Earth-Science Reviews</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2014</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Elsevier B.V.</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">139</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">47-58</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">High-intensity and fast-spreadingwildfires are natural in the Mediterranean basin. However, since 1960,wildfire occurrence has increased because of changes in land use,whichresultedinextensive land abandonment, increases in the fuel load and continuity in the landscape. The level of soil degradation related towildfire occurrence depends on fire recurrence, topography of the site, intensity of the soil erosion processes and plant cover post-fire regener- ation rate. Therefore assessing fire impacts on soil properties is critical to quantify land degradation processes and to assess post-fire restoration plans. This article reviews the changes in soil nutrient status ofMediterranean eco- systems affected bywildfires by focusing on the interactions between the different drivers and factors, and the un- derlying processes of these changes. Articles dealingwithwildfires in areas belonging to the Mediterranean basin and characterizedby an annual average rainfall of 300–900mmand amean annual temperature around 14–19 °C, have been reviewed. The data show that the soil nutrient content in Mediterranean drylands affected by wildfires depends on the vegetation type, fire recurrence and fire intensity. Immediately after a fire, the nutrient content in boththeOandAhorizons oftenincreasesbecause of ash deposition,nutrient release fromthe burnt vegetation and formationofstablenutrientforms.Ash deposition persistenceonthe soil surfaceisone of themost important fac- tors in determining the soil nutrient content both immediately after a fire and for the long-term. For the restoration of burned habitats it is important to knowthe content and the spatial distribution of nutrients in the soil because this can act as a limiting factor to vegetation recovery. Carbon and nitrogen pools in the soil have been recognized as fundamental to vegetation recuperation after a fire. To promote the accumulation and retention of nutrients in soil after a fire, it is important to stabilize the burnt site by applying post-fire measures that limit soil erosion, sur- face runoff and wind loss of the ash. Depending on the plant species and the time elapsing between consecutive wildfires, fire is responsible for the transition frommature ecosystems (i.e. conifer forests) to shrublands, which are poorer in soil nutrient status. Wildfire occurrence can be reduced by planting fire-resilient plants in fire- prone areas. To define the best post-fire and restoration treatments, the impacts of fire on both the O and the A horizon aswellas the impactsofdifferent post-fire treatments on the soil nutrient content require further study.</style></abstract></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chirino, Esteban</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vilagrosa, Alberto</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vallejo, V. Ramón</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Using hydrogel and clay to improve the water status of seedlings for dryland restoration</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Plant and Soil</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">carbon isotope composition</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">plant stock quality</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Quercus suber</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">substrate</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Water availability</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011///</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://www.springerlink.com/index/10.1007/s11104-011-0730-1</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">344</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">99 - 110</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In dryland ecosystems, post-transplant water stress produces high seedling mortality after the first summer following outplanting. Our aim was to assess the effects of clay and hydrogel, both on the water holding capacity of the growing media and on various morphological and physiological characteristics of Quercus suber seedlings in the nursery and, subsequently, during the first 2 years in the field. Quercus suber L. seedlings were grown in four types of growing media: CS (Control growing media, standard mixture of limed peat and coconut peat, 1:1 v/v ratio), SC-10 (CS mixed with sepiolite clay at 10% v/v) and HS (CS mixed with hydrogel Stockosorb® K-400 at two doses, 0.7 and 1.5% w/w). HS-1.5 showed the best results, increasing the water holding capacity of the root plug, improving seedling water status and increasing seedling survival in the field. SC-10 showed an intermediate effect on seedling response in the field. Mixing hydrogel with a peatbased growing medium to form root plugs is a suitable technique for cultivating species to be planted in areas with a strong water deficit. This technique reduces posttransplant water stress in seedlings during their first months in the field and contributes to improve forestrestoration methods in dryland ecosystems.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1-2</style></issue></record></records></xml>