Change in the Efficiency of Cellulose Decomposer Activity After the 2020 Fire in the Soil of the Cedar and Fir Reserve in Lattakia Governorate.

Abstract

Wildfires are among the common disturbances that leave significant impacts on natural ecosystems, including the biological components of the soil. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the 2020 fire on the efficiency of cellulose decomposition in the soil of the Cedar and Fir Reserve in Syria, considering it an effective biological indicator of microbial activity and a measure of soil recovery after fire. Soil samples were collected in 2023 from two different depths (0–10 cm and 10–30 cm) in areas exposed to varying fire intensities (high, moderate, and low) as well as from an unburned site.

The results showed that fires particularly low-intensity ones significantly increased cellulose decomposition efficiency in the surface layer (0–10 cm), where the degradation rate reached 98%. This increase is attributed to the rise in soil pH and the release of nutrients following the fire. In contrast, high-intensity fire led to reduced decomposition in the deeper layers (10–30 cm). The study also revealed indicators of gradual soil recovery when comparing samples collected in 2021 with those collected in 2023, confirming the soil’s ability to restore its biological functions