Investigation of the Fire Effects on Some Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Soil (Case Study: Miankaleh Rangeland, Iran)

Fire is one of the ecological factors that can have positive and negative effects on ecosystem processes. Nevertheless, prescribed burning is considered to be an important tool for grassland management, particularly to manipulate the balance between grasses and shrubs (Scheintaub et al. 2009). In Iran, for example, Khodagholi et al. (2001) in the Samirom rangelands of Isfahan Province suggest that fire reduces the shrubs cover and production and leads to the expansion of grasses. Sharifi and Imani (2006) showed that in the semi-steppe of Khalkhal Province shrub cover decreased in contrast to permanent grasses after fire was applied. However, others report that fire can reduce production and plant diversity due to affects on the range soil properties. This research investigated the effects of fire on some soil physico-chemical characteristics in the Miankaleh rangeland in northern Iran