Dynamics of aggregate stability in slash-and-burn system: Relaxation time, decay, and resilience

Slash-and-burn is a traditional agroforestry system performed in tropical regions worldwide. Fire is the main tool in the slash-and-burn soil management. Most of the immediate and direct effects caused by fire are associated with changes on aggregate stability. However, there is a knowledge gap on the long-term effects of fire on soil aggregate stability resilience. In the present study, long-term monitoring (21 months) was carried out to assess the post-fire effects on aggregate stability. Aggregate stability is temporally dependent on each post-fire phase occurring in the slash-and-burn agricultural system. In this study, different phases that affect aggregate stability post-fire, including relaxation time, decay, and resilience, were suggested.