Efecto del fuego sobre la temperatura del suelo y la vegetación en un pastizal de los Llanos Orientales (Meta, Colombia)

Abstract

The effect of fire on both soil temperature and plant community (structure and floristic composition) was studied in experimental plots ubicated in “savanna formation” (grassland) near Villavicencio (Meta-Colombia). Soil temperature at 2, 4, 6 cm depth were measured during one hour while “grasses” were bumed. In the three depths, maximal temperatures registered occur only for a few minutes in both wet and dry periods. After fire, sometimes plant cover (%) increase and also it decrease, but in general terms the grasses trend to return to their initial stage of cover. Rainfall also is an important factor in the response of vegetation after fire.