Application of Monod equations for remediation of soils affected by forest fires in eastern Bolivia

Abstract

Recurrent forest fires in eastern Bolivia affect and degrade soil quality. Therefore, the objective was to analyze an open thermodynamic eco-environmental system for the interaction process in the decomposition of organic matter, enabling the regeneration of microorganisms and the recovery/strengthening of soil affected by forest fires in the Santa Cruz region. An explanatory and longitudinal methodology was applied, using satellite observations from NASA FIRMS, GISS, and Windy, and laboratory analysis at 15 sites, where Monod's equations were applied for soil remeasurement. The results reveal a 67% increase in burned areas, with thermal anomalies of +1.2°C, a reduction in organic carbon (3.5-2.1%), nitrogen (120-66 kg/ha), and microbial biomass of three to four times the magnitude. Water erosion increased from 40% to 60%, with an r=0.82, demonstrating the deterioration of wetlands with high sedimentation and drought. To address this, an eco-environmental bioreactor system is proposed that reduces organic load by 63.2% in short periods, and also demonstrates an increase in biomass from 1 to 23.53 g/L. It is concluded that the eco-environmental system validates effective bioremediation, restoring soil and hydrological resilience in line with SDG 15.