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Purpose <p>Wildfires are frequent disturbances in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. In February 2023, a large-scale wildfire burned forest plantations on Inceptisols near the town of Nacimiento (Biobío Region). This study aims to characterize the fire and understand how soil properties respond to such disturbance and how they recover after winter rainfall.</p> Method <p>Multivariate techniques were applied, including the generation of severity maps, and vegetation indices derived from satellite imagery comparing the effect of fire. Soil samples were collected from two forested catchments in burned (BZ) and unburned (NBZ) zones at two depths (0–10 and 10–20&#xa0;cm) in May and December 2023. Morphological, physical, and chemical properties were compared between sampling periods and zones.</p> Results <p>On the day of the wildfire, a thermal anomaly was recorded (39.9&#xa0;°C); fire severity was mostly low (32%) to moderate-low (25.6%), yet the normalized difference vegetation index declined by &gt; 70% within the area affected by the wildfire. In BZ the soil resistance increased from 204 to 288&#xa0;kPa at 0–10&#xa0;cm, and Ca, Mg, and S decreased by 32% after winter rainfall (757&#xa0;mm); in NBZ the soil resistance decreased from 349 to 184&#xa0;kPa. At 10–20&#xa0;cm depth, soil pH decreased (4.7 to 4.2), and aluminum concentration increased in 134%.</p> Conclusions <p>The wildfire was driven by extreme climatic conditions and exhibited spatially heterogeneous burn severity. The event caused sharp declines in vegetation health and altered soil properties. These findings highlight the sensitivity of Inceptisols to moderate severity wildfires and their potential long-term impacts on soil recovery and resilience.</p>

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Characterization of Soil Changes and Vegetation Indicators after Wildfires

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月13日

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  • Karla Sánchez,
  • Oscar Thiers,
  • Andrés Iroumé,
  • Magdalena Aguayo,
  • Matías Pincheira,
  • Felipe Zúñiga

摘要

Purpose

Wildfires are frequent disturbances in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. In February 2023, a large-scale wildfire burned forest plantations on Inceptisols near the town of Nacimiento (Biobío Region). This study aims to characterize the fire and understand how soil properties respond to such disturbance and how they recover after winter rainfall.

Method

Multivariate techniques were applied, including the generation of severity maps, and vegetation indices derived from satellite imagery comparing the effect of fire. Soil samples were collected from two forested catchments in burned (BZ) and unburned (NBZ) zones at two depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm) in May and December 2023. Morphological, physical, and chemical properties were compared between sampling periods and zones.

Results

On the day of the wildfire, a thermal anomaly was recorded (39.9 °C); fire severity was mostly low (32%) to moderate-low (25.6%), yet the normalized difference vegetation index declined by > 70% within the area affected by the wildfire. In BZ the soil resistance increased from 204 to 288 kPa at 0–10 cm, and Ca, Mg, and S decreased by 32% after winter rainfall (757 mm); in NBZ the soil resistance decreased from 349 to 184 kPa. At 10–20 cm depth, soil pH decreased (4.7 to 4.2), and aluminum concentration increased in 134%.

Conclusions

The wildfire was driven by extreme climatic conditions and exhibited spatially heterogeneous burn severity. The event caused sharp declines in vegetation health and altered soil properties. These findings highlight the sensitivity of Inceptisols to moderate severity wildfires and their potential long-term impacts on soil recovery and resilience.