Changes in site productivity and the recovery of soil properties following wet- and dry-weather harvesting disturbances in the Atlantic Coastal Plain for a stand of age 10 years

Abstract

Wet-weather logging can cause severe soil physical disturbances and redistribute residues. Although some research indicates negative effects of such disturbances on individual tree growth, the long-term resilience and resistance of soils and the ameliorative effects of site preparation are not fully understood. Three 20 ha loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) plantations located on fertile wet pine flats on the coastal plain of South Carolina were subjected to five treatment combinations of harvest (wet and dry) and site preparation. Mean tree heights were 10.2–11.5 m, and stand biomass ranged between 95 and 143 Mg/ha. A rank diagnostic indicates that wet-weather harvesting did not significantly change site productivity between rotations, and bedding improved site productivity. At the polypedon scale (0.04 ha), there were no significant differences in tree height, biomass, or the rank diagnostic among classes of soil physical disturbances or harvesting residues when bedding was employed. On nonbedded sites, some levels of disturbance appeared to be superior to minimally disturbed sites. Based on 10 year results, wet pine flats are apparently resistant and resilient to the effects of wet-weather harvesting.

Assessment of the Natural Recovery Rate of Soil Specific Volume following Forest Soil Compaction

“…Croke et al (2001) showed no significant soil bulk volume recovery 5 yr after heavy traffic of www.soils.org/publications/sssaj forest machinery, while soil surface infiltration significantly improved during the same period. Other authors observed the same trends in bulk soil volume and macropore space recovery rates (Rab, 2004;Eisenbies et al, 2007). However the recovery rate of the functionality of the soil pore system may also be slower than the one observed for soil bulk volume.…”

Potential above-ground biomass losses from severe soil rutting during wet weather timber harvests of coastal plain loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations mitigated by mechanical site preparation

“…When the study harvests were implemented, Wet harvested sites were intentionally disturbed to a greater extent than would be found on a normal harvesting operation. This level of disturbance was conducted in order to emphasize the effect of site preparation for ameliorating harvest traffic disturbances (Eisenbies et al, 2007). Disturbance occurred on 87% of the wet-weather harvested site, while only 5.2% of the area within dry-weather sites were disturbed (Aust et al, 1998a).…”

“…Prior to harvest in 1992 for this research project, 20 year old loblolly pine plantations existed on the sites (Aust et al, 1998a). Dominant soils series include Argent (Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Endoaqualfs) (57%), Coosaw (Loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Aquic Arenic Hapludults) (15%), Santee (Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Argiaquolls) (13%), and Yemassee (Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Aeric Endoaquults) (14%) series (Eisenbies et al, 2007;USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2012a). Soils formed in marine sediments typical of Coastal Plain environments and drainage classes range from somewhat poorly to poorly drained (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2012b).…”

“…The extra seedlings were removed during the second growing season after the first year survival was ensured. Soil data for the pre-harvest (Burger, 1994), postharvest (Aust et al, 1998b;Preston, 1996), and periods immediately after site preparation Lister et al, 2004;Miwa et al, 2004;Xu et al, 2002) were previously reported, as were productivity data collected at stand ages 5 and 10 years (Eisenbies et al, 2007). Data in this paper are from 16 years after stand establishment and do not include the original non-harvested control treatments that no longer remain.…”

Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction and vegetation control on 10th year biomass and foliar nutrition: LTSP continent-wide comparisons

“…Further, the combined effects of these soil impacts may or may not affect stand productivity (Froehlich et al, 1986;Miller et al, 1996;Gomez et al, 2002a). Over time bulk densities and aeration porosities are likely to recover, but recovery rates can vary greatly, reflecting frost action, soil rock and water content, plant rooting, shrink-swell activity, and the action of soil fauna (Greacen and Sands, 1980;Corns, 1988;Powers et al, 2005;Eisenbies et al, 2007).…”