Impact of wildfires on the soil microbiome and soil biogeochemical parameters: A systematic review

Ayala Tocto R.Y.; Calderon M.S.; Bustamante D.E. · Catena (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.110520

Resumen

Wildfires are increasingly frequent disturbances that strongly alter terrestrial ecosystems. In this context, this systematic review analyzed 107 studies retrieved up to May 2025 and published between 1997 and May 2025 that evaluated the effects of fire on the soil microbiome and soil biogeochemical parameters across ecosystem types and fire-severity levels. The results revealed a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.1% for the period 1997–2024, with scientific production concentrated mainly in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, providing evidence of research gaps in various regions. Because comparable effect-size data were not consistently available across studies, microbial and edaphic patterns were interpreted as frequency-based evidence rather than pooled effect-size estimates. Similarly, the analyzed studies indicated that fire severity is the primary modulator of microbial and edaphic responses. Frequency-based evidence showed that fires of moderate to high severity are associated with increased relative abundances of Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and decreased abundances of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota. Fungal communities show increased abundances of Ascomycota and Mucoromycota and decreased abundances of Basidiomycota and Glomeromycota. In parallel, increases in pH and electrical conductivity and decreases in total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are described. Postfire recovery trajectories were ecosystem-dependent and generally faster in grasslands and shrublands than in tropical and dry forests. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating microbial indicators and soil biogeochemical responses into postfire restoration strategies, particularly to improve soil recovery and reduce long-term disruptions in carbon and nutrient cycling.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas