Soil moisture reduces belowground heat flux and soil temperatures under a burning fuel pile

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Abstract
A direct comparison of temperatures and heat loads was made between simulated duff-covered (~2 cm) and uncovered mineral soil beneath a burning fuel pile. Temperatures were recorded in the duff, at the duff – mineral soil interface, and at 1-cm intervals downward to a depth of 4 cm. Covering reduced the peak temperatures about 200 °C in dry mineral soil. Wet mineral soil covered with wet duff experienced a temperature reduction of over 500 °C. Temperatures in wet mineral soil did not exceed 90 °C and the heat load into the wet mineral soil was, on the average, 20% of the heat load into the dry mineral soil. Land managers wanting to minimize mortality of existing plants or loss of soil organics should strive to burn when mineral soils are approaching saturation near the surface.

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