Science Forums 2

[Ganoderma]

Someone mentioned about the aboriginals in WA had a form of terra pretta like soil. I lived in BC Canada for 20 years spending much of that time in the mountains. I am curious if people have done studies in places such as that. In use it seems much the same as amazonia, although not as old. Places there have been logged literally to the dirt, some places 4 or 5 times. They still grow back fiercely (except on steep mountain slopes where rains does away with much of the soil). I find it interesting because in many areas the organic content is incredibly high and sometimes at depths of 10 feet. These clear cuts are similar to that of slash and burn, just a little less burn. Often there are large piles of branches and waste wood left to burn. What I have been wondering lately is underground burning. They say they want lower temps, and smoke is useful. What happens in a forest fire? The roots burn underground. Forest fires can happen easily underground without any trace of smoke. I am wondering if perhaps this could be a useful tool. In BC I have seen where fire (apparently) started on a dead tree and worked its way down under. Because the substrate is really quite organic and sometimes only partially decomposed it would act like a large furnace. like a big grass heap in the sun. The smoke is captured above many times so not much is put back into the atmosphere.

Just another thought....could it be possible that these people started underground fires on purpose? Perhaps pottery, among other things, is a good way of spreading heat and trying to heat the soil up as a whole to get a nice big 400 acre "eco oven"? I don’t think that anything has one use, although it may have initially been meant only for one purpose.

Lastly about forest fires. I notice that after the past couple years forest fires in BC things grew back very quickly, despite relatively low water. Could this have something to do with it? Perhaps species that benefit from fire such as pines and morel mushrooms could lend some hints.