Short-Term Effects of Experimental Fire on Physicochemical and Microbial Properties of a Mediterranean Cambisol

Little is known about the bonfire impact on microbial properties in soil. This work aimed to study moderate- high-severity experimental burning (250 °C) compared unburned Cambisol a natural Mediterranean environment (Croatia) selected soil properties. The was sampled immediately and 1, 2, 4, 6 months after fire. fire increased mean weight diameter, water stable aggregates, repellence different fractions, observed effect strongest It also altered pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen carbon, sulphur content, completely destroyed carbapenem-resistant bacteria, but did not significantly affect soil’s mineralogical Six fire, most (save for pH) returned near control values. Heterotrophic, sporogenic, phosphate-solubilising bacteria started recover month, whereas population of initially, recovered by fourth month Dehydrogenase activity affected, proper recovery four Even though showed some resilience its mostly normal sixth full expected occur later, as vegetation returns.