POSTFIRE EFFECTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND NUTRIENT LOSSES

The effects of an August, 1992, wildfire on nutrient losses by water e rosion have been studied. The fire affected an area of 9498 ha of pine forest and shrub, located in Sierra Calderona (Valencia, Spain). In t he burned area, six stations of erosion measurement were set up immedi ately after the end of the fire. The results obtained in these station s are reported. Topographical, edaphological and vegetation characteri stics of each station are described. Fourteen episodes of erosive rain with production of runoff and sediments, between August,1992, and Nov ember, 1993, were studied, mainly in relation to changes in the soil c hemical characteristics. Data show that the highest soil and nutrient losses were produced in the period immediately after the fire. However , fire intensity is the factor that determines the soil status with re spect to its response to nutrient losses.