Originally published August 11 2010
Forest fires are beneficial to soil health
by Jonathan Benson, staff writer
(NaturalNews) Most people probably assume that forest fires are entirely destructive events that must be prevented at all costs. But recent research shows that forest fires are actually beneficial to soil because they play an important role in helping to maintain the earth's nitrogen cycle.
Researchers from the University of Montana recently discovered that whenever there is a forest fire, the charcoal deposited into the ground helps to stimulate the conversion of ammonia to nitrates. This conversion perpetuates the nitrogen cycle and it enriches the soil with nitrogen, a necessary component of ecological health.
Environmental pollutants like chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers are known to damage the earth's nitrogen cycle, but this new research provides insight into one of nature's natural remedies to the problem.
"Many of the defensive compounds plants rely on are alkaloids that contain nitrogen. Nitrogen is at a premium for a number of plants because they need large quantities of it for growth. Plants that live in nitrogen-deficient soils...often lack secondary defensive compounds," explain Adrian Forsyth and Kenneth Miyata in their book Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America.
In other words, nitrogen is a necessary component of proper plant growth. Without it, plants would be unable to survive.
The study, which was published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality, also found that the nitrogen deposited into the ground as a result of forest fires helps healthy bacteria colonies to thrive in otherwise microbial-lacking soil.
Sources for this story include:
https://www.agronomy.org/news-media/releases/2010/08...
http://www.naturalpedia.com/Nitrogen.html
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml