Relationships between Soil Compaction and Harvest Season, Soil Texture, and Landscape Position for Aspen Forests

Kolka, Randy; Steber, Aaron; Brooks, Ken; Perry, Charles H.; Powers, Matt

doi:10.5849/njaf.10-039

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Many researchers have reported an increase in soil bulk density resulting from logging equipment (Snider and Miller 1985;McNabb et al 2001;Sakai et al 2008;Kolka et al 2012;Solgi and Najafi 2014). In this study, changes in soil bulk density at the center of the skid trail and in wheel ruts ranged from 28% to 58%, well above the value of 15% which Snider and Miller (1985) defined as the threshold of soil compaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…In this study, changes in soil bulk density at the center of the skid trail and in wheel ruts ranged from 28% to 58%, well above the value of 15% which Snider and Miller (1985) defined as the threshold of soil compaction. Kolka et al (2012) found higher bulk density and surface soil strength in recent clearcut stand following harvesting compared to adjacent and similar but unharvested stands. Based on recent research (Solgi and Najafi 2014), soil bulk density was 57% higher on the skid trail compared to the undisturbed area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…The use of heavy logging equipment in log extraction, especially ground-based ones, has been criticized because of soil disturbance and also damage to residual stand caused by such equipment (Han and Kellogg 2000). Soil damage includes soil disturbance (Malmer and Grip 1990), soil compaction (McNabb et al 2001;Kolka et al 2012;Solgi and Najafi 2014), and removal of soil organic matter (Ole-Meiludie and Njau 1989). These will result in changes to soil properties which often cause the reduction of tree growth and forest products (Kozlowski 1999;Heninger et al 2002;Pimentel 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impacts of mechanized forest harvesting on soil physical properties, especially soil compaction, have been widely investigated (Greacen and Sands 1980;Shetron et al 1988;Aust et al 1995;McNabb et al 2001;Kolka et al 2012;Solgi and Najafi 2014). Aust et al (1995) found bulk density increases of 20% and decreases in average soil macroporosity (80%) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (12%) following harvesting disturbance on wet pine flats that had been compacted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, Shetron et al (1988) showed well over 80% increases in bulk density associated with logging disturbance and 20% decreases in porosity on a hardwood site in Wisconsin. Kolka et al (2012) studied bulk density and surface soil strength in recent clearcuts in Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota. They found higher bulk density and surface soil strength following harvesting compared to adjacent and similar but unharvested stands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil hydrophysical degradation associated with forest operations

Abdi

Moghadamirad

Hayati

et al. 2017

Forest Science and Technology

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Skid trails in the Hyrcanian forest of northern Iran are important for moving wood to log landings; however, they can cause soil compaction and alter water infiltration. This research therefore presents an analysis of the impact of ground-based skidding on soil hydrophysical properties in Kuhmiyan forest located in the Hyrcanian forest. Soil infiltration, bulk density, and soil resistance to penetration have been studied at three different depths of soil along the skid trails. Three sampling locations were considered: wheel ruts, center of skid trails, and undisturbed forest (control). The results showed that the total infiltration rate, and also the instantaneous infiltration rate, were significantly higher in the control treatment. The results also showed an increase of 57% and 31% for the soil bulk density at wheel ruts and centers of skid trails compared to the control. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between soil resistance in the control and the other two treatments, with wheel ruts having the highest resistance. According to the results, there was a strong negative correlation between infiltration and soil resistance (r =-0.94), and between infiltration and bulk density (r =-0.93). Using a protective layer of slash and logging debris and residual on skid trails can be highly recommended to moderate soil compaction and mitigate the destructive impact of logging equipment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil hydrophysical degradation associated with forest operations

Abdi

Moghadamirad

Hayati

et al. 2017

Forest Science and Technology

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Land use and management effects on soil carbon in U.S. Lake States, with emphasis on forestry, fire, and reforestation

Nave

DeLyser²,

Domke

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

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There is growing need to quantify and communicate how land use and management activities influence soil organic carbon (SOC) at scales relevant to, and in the tangible control of landowners and forest managers. The continued proliferation of publications and growth of data sets, data synthesis and meta‐analysis approaches allows the application of powerful tools to such questions at ever finer scales. In this analysis, we combined a literature review and effect‐size meta‐analysis with two large, independent, observational databases to assess how land use and management impact SOC stocks, primarily with regards to forest land uses. We performed this work for the (Great Lakes) U.S. Lake States, which comprise 6% of the land area, but 7% of the forest and 9% of the forest SOC in the United States, as the second in a series of ecoregional SOC assessments. Most importantly, our analysis indicates that natural factors, such as soil texture and parent material, exert more control over SOC stocks than land use or management. With that for context, our analysis also indicates which natural factors most influence management impacts on SOC storage. We report an overall trend of significantly diminished topsoil SOC stocks with harvesting, consistent across all three data sets, while also demonstrating how certain sites and soils diverge from this pattern, including some that show opposite trends. Impacts of fire grossly mirror those of harvesting, with declines near the top of the profile, but potential gains at depth and no net change when considering the whole profile. Land use changes showing significant SOC impacts are limited to reforestation on barren mining substrates (large and variable gains) and conversion of native forest to cultivation (losses). We describe patterns within the observational data that reveal the physical basis for preferential land use, e.g., cultivation of soils with the most favorable physical properties, and forest plantation establishment on the most marginal soils, and use these patterns to identify management opportunities and considerations. We also qualify our results with ratings of confidence, based on their degree of support across approaches, and offer concise, defensible tactics for adapting management operations to site‐specific criteria and SOC vulnerability.

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Changes in hillslope hydrology in a perched, shallow soil system due to clearcutting and residual biomass removal

McCarter

Sebestyen

Eggert

et al. 2020

Hydrological Processes

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Sustainable fuels legislation and volatility in energy prices have put additional pressures on the forestry sector to intensify the harvesting of biomass for "advanced biofuel" production. To better understand how residual biomass removal after harvest affects forest hydrology in relatively low slope terrain, a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) study was conducted in the USDA Forest Service's Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, USA. Hydrological measurements were made from 2010-2013 on a forested hillslope that was divided into three treatment blocks, where one block was harvested and residual biomass removed (Biomass Removed), the second was harvested and residual biomass left (Biomass Left), and the last block was left as an Unharvested Control. The pre-harvest period (2 years) was 2010-11 and postharvest (2 years) was 2012-13. Water table elevation at the upslope and downslope position, subsurface runoff, and soil moisture were measured between May-November. Mixed effect statistical models were used to compare both the beforeafter and "control" treatment ratios (ratios between harvested hillslopes and the Unharvested Control hillslope). Subsurface runoff significantly increased (p < .05) at both harvested hillslopes but to a greater degree on the Biomass Left hillslope. Greater subsurface runoff volumes at both harvested hillslopes were driven by substantial increases during fall, with additional significant increases during summer on the Biomass Left hillslope. The hydrological connectivity, inferred from event runoff ratios, increased due to harvesting at both hillslopes but only significantly on the Biomass Left hillslope. The winter harvest minimized soil disturbance, resulting in no change to the effective hydraulic conductivity distribution with depth. Thus, the observed hydrological changes were driven by increased effective precipitation and decreased evapotranspiration, increasing the duration that both harvested hillslopes were hydrologically active. The harvesting of residual biomass appears to lessen hydrological connectivity relative to leaving residual biomass on the hillslope, potentially decreasing downstream hydrological impacts of similar forestry operations.

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Relationships between Soil Compaction and Harvest Season, Soil Texture, and Landscape Position for Aspen Forests

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Soil hydrophysical degradation associated with forest operations

Soil hydrophysical degradation associated with forest operations

Land use and management effects on soil carbon in U.S. Lake States, with emphasis on forestry, fire, and reforestation

Changes in hillslope hydrology in a perched, shallow soil system due to clearcutting and residual biomass removal

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