Glomalin-related soil protein as an indicator of changes generated by prescribed burning of scrubland in the Central Pyrenees: A ten-year study

Emran, Mohamed ; Alfaro-Leranoz, Andoni ; Martí-Dalmau, Clara (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Badía-Villas, David (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The removal of shrub cover invading subalpine pastures in the southern Pyrenees is increasingly carried out by prescribed burning (PB). This study assesses the impact of PB on topsoil components utilizing glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) fractions and associated soil properties as indicators. Three fractions were analyzed: easily extractable (EE-GRSP), moderately extractable (ME-GRSP), and difficultly extractable (DE-GRSP), together with their organic carbon content (C-GRSP). Soil samples were collected at 0–1, 1–2, and 2–3 cm depth across a fire chronosequence: unburned (UB), immediately after PB (B0), and 6- and 10-year post-burn.
Total C-GRSP declined sharply after PB (8.44 g kg−1 in UB to 5.95 g kg−1 in B0) and continued decreasing at 6 and 10 years (3.54 g kg−1 and 2.24 g kg−1, respectively), reflecting long-term sensitivity to the disturbance that PB represents. EE-GRSP and DE-GRSP followed similar trends, with EE-GRSP showing the strongest reduction, suggesting higher sensitivity to vegetation cover loss and microbial disruption. The EE-GRSP/TGRSP ratio dropped after burning but partially recovered after 10 years, indicating gradual reactivation of glomalin production. Although concentrations decreased with soil depth, differences among the 0–3 cm layers were not significant under fire effects.
All GRSP fractions were strongly and positively correlated with organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass, basal respiration, and glucosidase activity. These findings highlight GRSP fractions and ratios as sensitive indicators of soil biochemical responses and recovery following low-severity PB. The results highlight the impact of fire on organic matter of microbial origin and the value of GRSP for monitoring soil resilience over time in ecosystems managed by fire.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.geodrs.2025.e01039

Año: 2026

Publicado en: Geoderma Regional 44 (2026), e01039 [14 pp.]
ISSN: 2352-0094

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/BOA20200713012

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Producción Vegetal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)
Área (Departamento): Área Edafología y Quím.Agríco. (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)