Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 1670-1677.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.10.13

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Calorific values of forest surface fuels in the eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, China

ZHOU Xiang1(),WANG Peng2,3(),Bumaliyamu MAIMAITI2,3,WANG Qiuyan2,3,YUE Jian2   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Forestry Planning Institute, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    3. Cele National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Desert Grassland Ecosystem, Cele 848300, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-02-07 Revised:2023-05-09 Online:2023-10-15 Published:2023-11-01

Abstract:

Forest surface combustibles are one of the important factors in forest fire propagation, and their calorific values are an important index by which to assess combustibility. This study has aimed to assess the surface fuels available in four typical vegetation types in the eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, China. The characteristics of the surface fuel calorific values and relationship with ignition point and absolute moisture content were analyzed. The results show that in coniferous and broad-leaved forests, there were significant differences between herb and litter components, while in shrub forest, there were significant differences between shrub and litter components. Within the same forest the calorific values were litter > herb > shrub > humus. The calorific values in the coniferous forests were the highest among the herbaceous fuel components (19.38 ± 0.08 kJ·g-1), while those in the coniferous forests were highest among the litter fuel components (19.55 ± 0.05 kJ·g-1). Differences were identified in the relationship between the calorific value and the ignition point of the surface combustibles for the different components. There was a significant correlation between the burning point of the shrub fuel components and the calorific value (R2 = 0.81, P < 0.01), and between the burning point of litter fuel components and the calorific value (R2 = 0.38, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the burning point and calorific value of the herbs and humus (P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant correlation between the calorific values of the surface fuel and the absolute moisture content of all forest types. Forest type, tree species, physical and chemical properties, and other conditions were thus found to have a comprehensive effect on the calorific values of the different fuels. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for forest fire management in the eastern Tianshan Mountains as they will help to accurately predict the calorific energy and potential forest fire risks and provide data support for in-depth research on regional surface fuels.

Key words: forest, calorific value, surface combustibles, ignition point, absolute water content, eastern Tianshan Mountains