Preliminary Estimates of Nutrient Levels in Fynbos Vegetation and the Role of Fire in Nutrient Cycling

Abstract

Data on the nutrient pool sizes in fynbos vegetation and estimates of nutrients released following actual or hypothetical fires at three fynbos sites are presented. Nutrient pool sizes vary between the sites, but they reflect the very low levels of essential nutrients typical of fynbos sites. Nutrients released by fire will vary with individual fires and sites. There are some data on nutrient loss through streamflow following fire, but these losses are very small. Nutrient losses in smoke and as wind-borne ash have not yet been measured, but may be important.