Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
08:38
Combined Size and Density Fractionation of Soils for Investigations of Organo-Mineral Interactions
Published on: February 15, 2019
15.9K
Ash-soil interface: Mineralogical composition and physical structure
1The Spectroscopy and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Center for Spatial Analysis Research (UHCSISR), Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel 3498838, Israel.
The Science of the Total Environment
|March 15, 2016
Summary
Forest fires transform soil properties, impacting hydrology and erosion resistance. Ash from vegetation and soil mixtures creates a new substance with unique characteristics, differing based on temperature and composition.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Wildfires significantly alter soil properties, influencing hydrology, nutrient cycling, and vegetation support.
- Forest fire ash is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic materials with variable characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize ash properties resulting from different temperatures and soil organic matter combinations.
- To investigate the transformation of soil and vegetation components into ash after heating.
Main Methods:
- Samples of soil with vegetation and vegetation alone were heated in a muffle furnace at 400°C and 600°C for 2 hours.
- Physicochemical, textural, and mineralogical properties of the resulting ash were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Ash exhibited grayish color and mixed-sized particles, losing original fuel characteristics.
- Distinct physicochemical and textural properties were observed in ash layers.
- Significant differences were found between ash derived from soil-vegetation mixtures and vegetation alone.
Conclusions:
- Ash from complex vegetation-soil systems forms a new substance with unique structural, textural, and mineralogical properties.
- Ash properties vary distinctly with the applied temperature, influencing layering patterns.
Keywords:
Ash mineralogyAsh textureLayering patternMIR spectroscopyNIR spectroscopyPost-burn ashVegetation-soil systemMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:23The Soil Ecosystem
25.5K
Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
25.5K
01:29Soil Microbial Ecology
16
Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
16
01:25Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate
961
Aggregate shape is classified based on the relative sharpness or roundness of the edges and corners. This classification includes categories like rounded, angular, elongated, and flaky, each with specific characteristics. Rounded aggregates, fully shaped by attrition, are typical of river or seashore gravel, while angular aggregates, such as crushed rock, have well-defined edges. Aggregates that are elongated and flaky are less desirable, as they can reduce the workability and strength of...
961
01:25Deleterious Substances in Aggregate
670
Deleterious substances in aggregates can be detrimental to the quality and durability of concrete. These substances include organic impurities like loam, which interfere with cement hydration and are usually present in the sand. These prevent a good bond between aggregate and cement paste. Organic impurities can be detected using the colorimetric test, where the darkness of a solution after agitation indicates the level of organic content.
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
670
01:20Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate
906
Aggregates contain pores of varying sizes; while some are completely enclosed within the particles, others open onto the surface, allowing water to penetrate. The porosity of aggregates is a major factor contributing to the overall porosity of concrete, given that aggregates constitute about three-quarters of concrete's volume.
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the...
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the...
906