Wildfires are an important driver of land degradation, with detrimental impacts on soil properties, usually leading to decreasing soil fertility and erosion, which affect vegetation recovery. This study investigates the long-term impact of wildfires on topsoil horizons and vegetation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where land degradation is causing significant economic and ecological losses. Ten years after a wildfire, 12 plots were installed in areas affected by low- and medium-severity fire, and in unburned areas. Morphological, physical and chemical soil properties were explored on each plot, together with vegetation cover (number and cover of species). Soil organic matter, carbon, nitrogen and available phosphorus contents in medium- and low-severity fire affected plots are approximately half of those recorded in unburned plots, showing detrimental long-term impacts on soil fertility. Soil cation exchange capacity, pH and available potassium did not show significant differences between fire- and non-fire-affected plots. The number of plant species in medium-severity fire-affected plots is significantly lower than in low-severity and unburned plots. Differentiated plant groups are led by herbaceous (ground-breaking and weed) species. This study shows that wildfires can have long-term impacts on topsoil horizons and vegetation in limestone areas, threatening the sustainability of forest ecosystems.

野火是土地退化的重要驱动力，会对土壤特性产生不利影响，通常会导致土壤肥力和侵蚀减少，从而影响植被恢复。这项研究调查了野火对波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那表土层和植被的长期影响，波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那的土地退化正在造成严重的经济和生态损失。发生野火十年后，在受中低度烈火影响的区域以及未燃烧的地区安装了12个地块。在每个样地上研究了形态，物理和化学土壤特性，以及植被覆盖度（物种的数量和覆盖度）。中度和低度火灾影响样地的土壤有机质，碳，氮和有效磷含量约为未燃烧样地的一半，显示对土壤肥力的长期有害影响。受火和未受火的地块之间的土壤阳离子交换能力，pH和有效钾含量没有显着差异。中度严重火灾地块的植物种类数量明显少于低度严重和未燃烧地块。分化的植物群以草本（破土和杂草）物种为主导。这项研究表明，野火可能对石灰岩地区的表土层和植被产生长期影响，威胁到森林生态系统的可持续性。中度严重火灾地块的植物种类数量明显少于低度严重和未燃烧地块。分化的植物群以草本（破土和杂草）物种为主导。这项研究表明，野火可能对石灰岩地区的表土层和植被产生长期影响，威胁到森林生态系统的可持续性。中度严重火灾地块的植物种类数量明显少于低度严重和未燃烧地块。分化的植物群以草本（破土和杂草）物种为主导。这项研究表明，野火可能对石灰岩地区的表土层和植被产生长期影响，威胁到森林生态系统的可持续性。