Effects of tree-length timber skidding on soil compaction in the skid trail in Hyrcanian forests

  • Meghdad Jourgholami Department of Forestry. Faculty of Natural Resources. University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. University of Tehran.
  • Baris Majnounain Professor of forest engineering Department of Forestry. Faculty of Natural Resources. University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. University of Tehran. Iran, Karaj.
  • Maryam Etehadi Abari Department of Forestry. Faculty of Natural Resources. University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. University of Tehran.

Abstract

Aim of study: The study was conducted to examine impact of skidding traffic, trail slope, traffic frequency, and soil depth on the soil bulk density.

Area of study: This study was carried out in the Kheyrud Forest in Hyrcanian forest, Iran.

Material and methods: The level of soil compaction at eight levels of traffic (1, 4, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 passes), four levels of skid trail slopes (0, 10, -10, and -20%) and three soil depth (5, 15, 25 cm) were applied in three replicates consequently. Bulk densities were measured on the undisturbed surface (control) and within the tracks. Timbers were extracted in the tree-length logging method using rubber-tired skidder (Timberjack 450 C).

Main results: About 5.2% of total area of harvesting unit were disturbed and compacted. Uphill skidding increases compaction more than downhill skidding. In the four different slopes, the highest increasing of the bulk density was occurred during the first few passes of skidder, although the bulk density continued to increase in amount and depth with the number of passes. The increases in bulk density were still important at the maximum sampling depth of 20-30 cm.

Research highlights: The results indicated that slope steepness had a strong effect on the soil physical properties and soil disturbance. Designated skid trails should be used to minimize the influence on the forest soil.

Key words: soil compaction; tree-length logging method; rubber-tired skidder; Hyrcanian forest.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ampoorter E, Goris R, Cornelis WM, Verheyen K, 2007. Impact of mechanized logging on compaction status of sandy forest soils. Forest Ecology and Management 241: 162-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.01.019

Ampoorter E, Van Nevel L, De Vos B, Hermy M, Verheyen K, 2010. Assessing the effects of initial soil characteristics, machine mass and traffic intensity on forest soil compaction. Forest Ecology and Management 260: 1664-1676. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.08.002

Ares A, Terry TA, Miller RE, Anderson HW, Flaming BL, 2005. Ground-Based Forest Harvesting Effects on Soil Physical Properties and Douglas-Fir Growth. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69: 1822-1832. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.0331

Bolding MC, Kellogg LD, Davis CT, 2009. Soil Compaction and Visual Disturbance Following an Integrated Mechanical Forest Fuel Reduction Operation in Southwest Oregon. International Journal of Forest Engineering 20: 47-56.

Cullen SJ, 1991. Timber Harvest Trafficking and Soil Compaction in Western Montana. Soil Science Society of America Journal 55: 1416-1421. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500050036x

Eliasson L, 2005. Effects of forwarder tire pressure on rut formation and soil compaction. Silva Fennica 39: 549-557.

Eliasson L, Wasterlund I, 2007. Effects of slash reinforcement of strip roads on rutting and soil compaction on a moist fine-grained soil. Forest Ecology and Management 252: 118-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.037

Froehlich HA, Miles DWR, Robbins RW, 1985. Soil bulk density recovery on compacted skid trails in central Idaho. Soil Science Society of America Journal 49: 1015-1017. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1985.03615995004900040045x

Gayoso J, Iroume A, 1991. Compaction and soil disturbances from logging in Southern Chile. Annals of Forest Science 48: 63-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/forest:19910105

Grace JM, Skaggs RW, Cassel DK, 2006. Soil Physical Changes Associated with Forest Harvesting Operations on an Organic Soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70: 503-509. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2005.0154

Greacen EL, Sands R, 1980. Compaction of Forest Soil; A Review. Australian Journal of Soil Research 18: 163-189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SR9800163

Horn R, Vossbrink J, Becker S, 2004. Modern forestry vehicles and their impacts on soil physical properties. Soil and Tillage Research 79: 207-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.07.009

Jamshidi R, Jaeger D, Raafatnia N, Tabari M, 2008. Influence of Two Ground-Based Skidding Systems on Soil Compaction under Different Slope and Gradient Conditions. International Journal of Forest Engineering 19: 9-16.

Kolkaa RK, Smidt MF, 2004. Effects of forest road amelioration techniques on soil bulk density, surface runoff, sediment transport, soil moisture and seedling growth. Forest Ecology and Management 202: 313-323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.07.042

Kozlowski TT, 1999. Soil Compaction and Growth of Woody Plants. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 14: 596-619. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02827589908540825

Krag R, Higgingbotham K, Rothwell R, 1986. Logging and soil disturbance in southeast British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16: 1345-1354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x86-238

Nugent C, Kanali C, Owende PMO, Nieuwenhuis M, Ward S, 2003. Characteristic site disturbance due to harvesting and extraction machinery traffic on sensitive forest sites with peat soils. Forest Ecology and Management 180: 85-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00628-X

Picchio R, Neri F, Petrini E, Verani S, Marchi E, Certini G, 2012. Machinery-induced soil compaction in thinning two pine stands in central Italy. Forest Ecology and Management 285: 38-43 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2012.08.008

Rab MA, 1996. Soil physical and hydrological properties following logging and slash burning in the Eucalyptus regnans forest of southeastern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 84: 159-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(96)03740-1

Rohand K, Kalb AA, Herbauts J, Verbrugge JC, 2004. Changes in some mechanical properties of a loamy soil under the influence of mechanized forest exploitation in a beech forest of central Belgium. Journal of Terramechanics 40: 235-253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jterra.2003.12.004

Susnjar M, Horvat D, Seselj J, 2006. Soil compaction in timber skidding in winter conditions. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering 27: 3-15.

Wang J, LeDoux CB, Edwards P, 2007. Changes in Soil Bulk Density Resulting from Construction and Conventional Cable Skidding Using Preplanned Skid Trails. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 24: 5-8.

Published
2014-08-01
How to Cite
Jourgholami, M., Majnounain, B., & Etehadi Abari, M. (2014). Effects of tree-length timber skidding on soil compaction in the skid trail in Hyrcanian forests. Forest Systems, 23(2), 288-293. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2014232-03766
Section
Research Articles