Abstract
Mediterranean ecosystems are increasingly affected by the rising frequency and intensity of wildfires, requiring proactive management strategies such as grazing or prescribed burns to control post-fire biomass. Despite an extensive body of literature addressing the individual effects of these two disturbances, their combined and sequential effects on soil properties remain poorly understood and heterogeneous. This highlights the need to synthesise extant evidence on fire–grazing interactions and to identify associated knowledge gaps. This study aims to map and synthesise evidence of the effects of fire and grazing on Mediterranean ecosystem soil properties and associated ecosystem functioning. It also seeks to characterise management regimes, identify research gaps, and inform sustainable soil management and conservation strategies. Peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2005 and 2025 focusing on Mediterranean ecosystem soils affected by fire–grazing sequences were included. Both quantitative and qualitative studies assessing physical, chemical, or biological soil properties were considered. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using Boolean search terms related to fire, grazing, livestock, Mediterranean ecosystems, and soils for the period 2005–2025. Data were charted in ATLAS.ti using a standardised coding framework following pilot testing. Three independent reviewers extracted and agreed on study characteristics, soil variables, and fire–grazing regime information. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, primarily conducted in Spain and Israel. The evidence shows a strong emphasis on biological variables and short-term responses, with reported positive outcomes mainly related to vegetation and biodiversity. Research on fire–grazing practices is predominantly oriented towards management and conservation objectives, while physical and chemical soil properties remain underrepresented. This indicates substantial knowledge gaps in the current literature. Fire–grazing research remains fragmented and dominated by biological approaches, limiting a comprehensive understanding of soil processes. Despite its management potential, there is a clear need for more standardised, long-term, and multidisciplinary studies across diverse Mediterranean ecosystem regions to support resilient ecosystem management.