Short-term effects of fire on plant cover and soil conditions in two Austrocedrus chilensis (cypress) forests in Patagonia, Argentina

Early post-fire effects on plant cover, in soil temperature (0, 5, 20, and 30 cm depth) and moisture (0-16, 20-36, and 40-56 cm depth) were analyzed for two years in two cypress stands in Patagonia, Argentina. Each stand (Trevelin = xeric and Bolson = mesic) contained three treatments: unburned (UN), partially (PB), and completely burned (CB). In Trevelin, 4 and 6 years after fire, understory cover increased (CB > PB > UN) and overstory decreased (CB = PB < UN) related to the burning treatment. In Bolson, one year after fire, all treatments had similar under- and overstory cover, but were similar to Trevelin two years later. Soil temperature was significantly different (PB > CB > UN) at all depths and dates only in Trevelin. Soil moisture was significantly higher in the burned treatments of both stands. While plant cover might have protective effects and soil water appears as not limiting, high soil temperatures seem to be detrimental for post-fire cypress establishment, especially in xeric sites.