Combined wildfire and salvage logging effects on runoff, sediment yield, and nutrient export in Mediterranean Pinus brutia forest
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, cilt.619, ss.1-14, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 619
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.foreco.2026.124073
- Dergi Adı: FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Artic & Antarctic Regions, BIOSIS, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Zoological Record
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-14
- Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Wildfires substantially alter watershed processes, and post-fire salvage logging (SL) can further amplify these effects by modifying soil structure and hydrological responses. This study quantifies the combined effects of wildfire and subsequent salvage logging on soil physical properties, runoff, sediment transport, and nutrient export in a semi-arid Mediterranean Pinus brutia (Turkish red pine) forest in southern Türkiye. Using a paired watershed approach, a burned and SL watershed was compared with an unburned control (UB) watershed during eight rainfall-runoff events. Relative to the unburned control, the burned and salvage-logged watershed exhibited a 24.4% increase in surface soil bulk density and an 87.55% reduction in infiltration rate and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity, promoting rapid surface runoff. Mean runoff in the SL watershed was 228.1% higher than in the UB watershed. Enhanced runoff substantially increased sediment mobilization, with total suspended sediment (TSS) export ~269-fold higher under post-fire conditions. Bedload transport also increased in magnitude and particle size, indicating higher flow energy and altered channel dynamics. Sediment-associated nutrient export also increased markedly. Organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), base cat ions (Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺), and trace elements (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺) were exported at substantially higher rates, primarily associated with fine sediments. These results reflect the combined influence of wildfire disturbance and salvage logging on sediment-nutrient dynamics. Overall, the combined disturbances enhanced hydrological connectivity and accelerated sediment and nutrient losses in Mediterranean forest watersheds. Low-impact logging, reduced soil compaction, and ground cover retention are critical to mitigate watershed degradation and protect downstream water quality.