Carbon Loss in Sediments and Sequestration in Vegetation after Wildfire and Mulching in a High-Severity Burned Area in NW Spain

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of mulching in reducing the risk of erosion has been evaluated in numerous studies. However, its effect on carbon loss has received less attention, despite the potentially negative effects on ecosystem recovery. In this study, the effects of straw helimulching on soil erosion and carbon loss in sediments were investigated after a severe wildfire in NW Spain during the first three years after fire. During the first year after the fire, the accumulated mean sediment yield was 12.4 Mg ha−1 in the control plots and 0.5 Mg ha−1 in the mulched plots. Soil erosion decreased sharply during the second year after the fire and was almost inexistent during the third year after the fire. No differences in carbon concentration were detected between treatments during the period of study. A significantly lower amount of carbon was lost after the mulching treatment due to its effectiveness in reducing sediment erosion. The mulching treatment did not significantly influence the amount of carbon sequestered in the vegetation. Although the application of mulch did not affect carbon fixation in vegetation, its application after fire can be considered a sustainable way of managing forest ecosystems to reduce the impact of fire on carbon emissions.