Do wildfires cause changes in soil quality in short term?

Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeplymodify the soil abiotic (i.e., pH, contents of water, organic matter and elements) and biotic properties(i.e., biomass and activity). In 2017, an intense wildfire occurred inside the Vesuvius National Park(Southern Italy), destroying approximately 50% of the existing plant cover. So, the research aimed toevaluate the fire effects on soil quality through single soil abiotic and biotic indicators and through anintegrated index (SQI). To achieve the aim, soil samples were collected inside the Vesuvius NationalPark at 12 sampling field points before fire (BF) and after fire (AF). The findings highlighted that in AFsoil, the contents of water and total carbon, element availability, respiration and the dehydrogenaseactivity were lower than in BF soil; in contrast, pH and hydrolase activity were significantly higher inAF soil. The microbial biomass and activity were affected by Al, Cr and Cu availability in both BFand AF soils. Despite the variations in each investigated soil abiotic and biotic property that occurredin AF soil, the overall soil quality did not significantly differ as compared to that calculated for the BFsoil. The findings provide a contribution to the baseline definition of the properties and quality ofburnt soil and highlight the short-term effects of fire on volcanic soil in the Mediterranean area