Mechanisms of element transfer to the atmosphere during vegetation fires

Abstract

Published data and newly presented evidence demonstrate that the proportion of N or P lost from plant material during combustion under a wide range of conditions increases linearly with percentage loss of fuel weight during combustion. For N the correlation is strong, and the slope (β) of the regression line approaches unity for combustions under field or simulated-field conditions, but reduces to 0.78 for materials combusted in a muffle furnace. Almost all of the losses of N are due to volatilization. The relationship for P is less well defined, and β is lower (0.56 for field studies; about 0.2 for simulated-field or laboratory combustions). Calcium is not volatilized at the temperatures generated in most vegetation fires, thus increases in the ratio of Ca to other elements during combustion (i.e., higher ratios in burnt residue) indicate nonparticulate transfer of elements to the atmosphere. Increased ratios for Ca to N, P, K, Mg, Mn, and B were demonstrated for several components of eucalypt litter fuels, especially where the degree of combustion was high. The positive relationship between increase in Ca:element ratio and percentage element loss in nonparticulate form during combustion, is of Mitscherlich form so that initial increases in the ratio represent proportionally most element loss. Partitioning of the transfer of elements from the litter and understory to the atmosphere measured during low-intensity fires in three eucalypt forest communities demonstrated a low particulate contribution (and thus a high nonparticulate transfer) for N, K, P, and B. Particulate contributions to elemental transfers are less where combustion is more complete, resulting in formation and transport of fine grey ash which has a high Ca:element ratio. Of particular ecological importance is the significant transfer of P by nonparticulate mechanisms, because such P is likely to be permanently lost from burnt sites and natural rates of P replacement are usually very slow. Fine grey or white ash is highly nutrient enriched (e.g., up to 50-fold for P compared with concentrations in unburnt fuel), and hence its transport from the site in the smoke column, or subsequently by either wind or water, can result in substantial export of nutrients.