Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
The present study assesses the efficacy of a technique for mitigating soil erosion following a forest fire at the Fort Lemercier site, situated within the Gouraya National Park in Bejaia. The treatment employed was the utilization of burnt tree branches harvested on site from the bases of burnt trees and shrubs. Sediment yields were quantified through the use of sediment fences in eight plots, each measuring 15 m², with four plots remaining undisturbed and four plots covered with burnt tree branches. The study examines soil losses subsequent to a fire, revealing notable discrepancies between menaged plots (MP) and unmanaged plots (UNP). The soil loss for MP ranged from 5.50 g to 319.00 g, while for UNP it ranged from 13.00 g to 3238.50 g. The maximum average loss was observed in UNPs, reaching 856.00 ± 32.62 g, compared with 139.36 ± 26.57 g for MPs. A significant negative correlation was established between soil losses and the degree of vegetation regeneration, as measured by cover. This correlation was stronger in MPs (coefficient = -0.85) than in UNPs (-0.61), indicating that vegetation regeneration has a greater impact on managed plots. From February 2018 onwards, significant revegetation of the plots led to a significant reduction in soil losses, which reached very low levels.