Elemental composition of post-wildfire biomass ashes and partly burned woody species in Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 31; no. 42; pp. 54785 - 54803
• Main Authors: Asare, Michael O., Midula, Pavol, Oravová, Lucie, Kuráň, Pavel, Hejcman, Michal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Ashes; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bark; Biomass; Biomass burning; By products; Byproducts; Calcium; Chemical composition; Combustion; Composition effects; Czech Republic; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Inductively coupled plasma; Lead; Magnesium; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; National parks; Optical emission spectroscopy; Parks, Recreational; Pine needles; Plant growth; Research Article; Scientific imaging; Soil - chemistry; Soil analysis; Soil fertility; Species; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Wildfires; Wood - chemistry; Czech Republic; Switzerland; Macro/microelement; Risk/toxic element; Wildfire; Spruce needle; Biomass ash; Woody species
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34858-7

The study explored the post-wildfire elemental composition of parts (wood, bark, branch, cone, trunk, litter, twig, needle, sward, fallow, sapling, etc.) and by-products (biomass ashes, partly burnt parts, and char) of different woody species in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, and considered their effects on soils. Multi-elemental analysis of the fire by-products of the woody species was determined with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry and compared with control biomass samples unaffected by wildfire. Most fire by-products were slightly alkaline, with acidic ashes obtained from blueberry wood. The by-products of the wildfire were characterized by varied total contents of macro (P, Ca, K, Mg, and S), micro (Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn), and other elements (B, Co, Mo, and V) vital to soil fertility and plant growth. The mean content of macro elements in the biomass ashes was up to 4.16 P, 23.5 Ca, 2.48 Mg, 63 K, and 5.57 S g kg −1 . These values were comparatively lower than published data for ashes obtained under optimized conditions, e.g., those combusted in power generation facilities. Conversely, partly burnt parts—an indication of incomplete combustion—had higher 9.22 P, 79 Ca, and 5.99 Mg g kg −1 contents in spruce needles than in biomass ashes and the control. Variations in woody species and anthropogenic activities in areas of wildfires produced varied As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb contents above EU fertilizer regulation. Caution in applying biomass ashes from wildfires on fields is required due to risk/toxic elements input from anthropogenic activities. Wildfire effects on the elemental composition of woody species can provide information on plant parts most suitable for biomass ashes for soil and ecosystem safety. Graphical abstract