Effects of skidding on forest soil infiltration in west-central Alberta

Abstract

. 2000. Effects of skidding on forest soil infiltration in west-central Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 80: 617-624. Soil compaction during forest harvesting generally reduces macropore space, which reduces infiltration and increases the potential for surface erosion and waterlogging. Hydrological effects of 3, 7 and 12 skidding cycles and their persistence were evaluated for 3 yr at 14 sites, which represented a range of soil texture and compaction conditions in the foothills and boreal forests of Alberta. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC) was determined using a constant head method on soil cores collected from 5-and 10-cm depths; unconfined infiltration rate of the surface soil (IR) was measured in situ with tension infiltrometers at near saturation. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in bulk density during skidding caused a significant reduction in both HC and IR after the first three cycles at eight sites where soil water potential at the time of skidding was higher than -15 kPa; the decrease at the other sites was not significant. Additional traffic, up to 12 cycles, did not cause a further significant decrease in HC or IR. The infiltration rate of soil compacted by three skidding cycles showed a recovery trend. However, in more intensively trafficked soils, compaction effects on infiltration remained significant for at least 3 yr, which was possibly attributed to heavy snowpacks preventing soil freezing at lower depths.

The Fall River Long-Term Site Productivity study in coastal Washington: site characteristics, methods, and biomass and carbon and nitrogen stores before and after harvest.

“…Ground-based forest operations can affect soil physical (Lenhard 1986, Startsev andMcNabb 2000), chemical (Herbauts et al 1996, Zabowski et al 1994, and biological (Dick et al 1988, Smeltzer et al 1986, Torbet and Wood 1992 characteristics. Effects of intensive harvest and site preparation on soil properties and tree growth can be positive, detrimental, or inconsequential (Miller et al 2004).…”

Effect of compaction on microbial activity and carbon and nitrogen transformations in two oxisols with different mineralogy

“…In recent years there has been a rapid expansion of mechanized silviculture and harvest operation in the forest sector and this has resulted in substantial increases in soil compaction (Wert & Thomas, 1981;Balbuena et al, 2000;Startsev & McNabb, 2000;Dias Junior et al, 2008;Silva et al, 2008). Given the short rotation period and high frequency of operations it can undermine the productivity of the stands in a near future, especially in eucalypt plantations.…”

Impact of wheeled and tracked tractors on soil physical properties in a mixed conifer stand

“…Harvest-induced soil compaction depends on several factors: soil type (Berli et al 2004, Sakai et al 2008, Magagnotti et al 2012, soil moisture (McNabb et al 2001, Han et al 2006, Ampoorter et al 2012, content of soil organic matter (Arthur et al 2013), number of machine passes (Williamson & Neilsen 2000, Wallbrink et al 2002, Han et al 2006, terrain steepness and direction of travel (Jourgholami et al 2014), characteristics of the equipment and yard organization (Picchio et al 2012, Marchi et al 2014, and machine speed and wheel slippage (Alakukku et al 2003, Eliasson 2005. Soil compaction and reduction or removal of the top organic horizon often causes poor regeneration on skid trails (Rab 1996, Startsev & McNabb 2000. With the exception of coarse-textured, excessively drained soils (Jakobsen & Greacen 1985, Gomez et al 2002, soil compaction reduces forest productivity (Brais 2001, Heninger et al 2002, Ares et al 2005 by impairing root elongation and decreasing water and air supply to plants and soil biota (Whalley et al 1995).…”