| Abstract |
Fire is recognized as an integral part of savanna ecosystems that shaped and continues to shape savannas since the Miocene. The prevalence of fire in this system influences nutrient cycling and soil (carbon) C pools. Fire may affect ecosystem productivity and biogeochemical processes through nutrient volatilization, altered organic matter quantity, and indirectly through altered vegetation structure. Despite the resulting effects on soil resources, substantial uncertainty about fire history effects exists, especially in semi-arid ecosystems. I explored the independent and interactive effects of fire history and vegetation patch types (bare ground, under grass and under shrub) on soil nutrients, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil respiration in a semi-arid ecosystem, central Namibia. |
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