Soil compaction of various Central European forest soils caused by traffic of forestry machines with various chassis
Abstract
Aim of study: The primary objective of this paper was to compare the effects of different types of forestry machine chassis on the compaction of the top layers of soil and to define the soil moisture content level, at which machine traffic results in maximum compaction.
Area of study: Measurements were conducted in eight forest stands located in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The soil types in the stands subjected to the study were luvisols, stagnosols, cambisols, and rendzinas.
Material and Methods: The measurements were focused on tracked and wheeled (equipped with low pressure tyres) cut-to-length machines, and skidders equipped with wide and standard tyres. The bulk density of soil was determined from soil samples extracted from the ruts, the centre of the skid trail, and the undisturbed stand. To determine soil moisture content, at which the soil is the most susceptible to compaction, the Proctor standard test was employed.
Main results: The moisture content for maximal compaction fluctuated from 12% to 34.06%. Wheeled machines compacted the soil to 1.24 – 1.36 g.cm-3 (30.3 – 35.4 % compaction) in dried state. Bulk density of soil in stands where tracked machine operated was lower, ranging from 1.02 to 1.06 g.cm-3 (25.3 % compaction).
Research highlights: All wheeled machines caused the same amount of soil compaction in the ruts, despite differences in tyres, machine weight, etc. Maximum compaction caused by forestry machines occurred at minimal moisture contents, easily achievable in European climatic conditions.
Keywords: soil compaction; bulk density; soil moisture content limits; cut-to-length machines; skidders.
Downloads
References
References
Ampoorter E, Goris R, Cornelis WM, Verheyen K, 2007. Impact of mechanized logging on compaction status of sandy forest soils. For Ecol Manage 241(1–3): 162-174.
Arnup RW, 1999. The extent, effect and management of forestry-related soil disturbance, with reference to implications for the Clay Belt: a literature review. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northeast Science & Machines, TR-37, 30 pp.
Arshad MA, Coen GM, 1992. Characterization of soil quality: physical and chemical criteria. Am J Alternative Agr 7: 5-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0889189300004410
Arvidsson J, 2001. Subsoil compaction caused by heavy sugarbeet harvesters in southern Sweden I. Soil physical properties and crop yield in six field experiments. Soil Tillage Res 60: 67-78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00169-6
Bob R, 2002. Forest Operations Machines. Southern Research Station, used forest service, Southern Forest Resource Assessment Draft Report, 341-353 pp.
Brais S, 2001. Persistence of soil compaction and effects on seedlings growth in northwestern Quebec. Soil Sci Soc Am J 65: 1263-1271. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2001.6541263x
Buchar J, Holčíková P, Rejšek K, 2011. Zhutnění povrchových horizontů lesních půd a dynamika půdní nasycené hydraulické vodivosti v podmínkách změněných pojezdem lesnických strojů (compaction of the top soil horizons of forest soils and the dynamics of saturated hydraulic conductivity in soils compacted by forestry machines). In: Multikriteriálni hodnocení technologií pro soustřeďování dříví, (Skoupý A, ed) LESNICKÁ PRÁCE, Czech Republic, 211 pp.
Eric RL, 2006. Assessing soil disturbances caused by forest machines. Forest Engineering, UNB, 1-25 pp.
Frey B, Kremer J, Rüdt A, Sciacca S, Matthies D, Lüscher P, 2009. Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machines affects soil bacterial community structure. Eur J Soil Biol 45(4): 312-320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2009.05.006
Gebauer R, Neruda J, Ulrich R, Martinková M, 2012. Soil compaction - impact of harvesters' and forwarders' passages on plant growth, sustainable forest management - Current Research, (Diez J, ed), InTech.
Gerasimov Y, Katarov V, 2010. Effect of bogie track and slash reinforcement on sinkage and soil compaction in soft terrains. Croat J For Eng 31(1): 35-45.
Halverson HG, Zisa RP, 1982. Measuring the response of conifer seedlings to soil compaction stress. Broomall, PA: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station.
Halvorson JJ, Gatto LW, Mccool DK, 2003. Overwinter changes to near-surface bulk density, penetration resistance and infiltration rates in compacted soil. J. Terramech 40(1): 1-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4898(03)00014-4
Hildebrand EE, Wiebel M, 1982. Der Einfluss von Befahrung auf die Qualität von Forststandorten (The effect of machine traffic on the quality of forest stands). AFJZ, 153: 24-34.
Horn R, 1988. Compressibility of arable land. In: Impact of water and external forces on soil structure, (Drescher J et al. eds), Catena Verlag, Germany. pp: 53-71.
Horn R, Vossbrink J, Becker S, 2004. Modern forestry vehicles and their impacts on soil physical properties. Soil Tillage Res 79(2): 207-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.07.009
Hraško J, Červenka L, Facek Z, Komár J, Němeček J, Pospíšil F, Sirový V, 1962. Rozbory pôd (Soil analyses), Slovenské vydavateľstvo pôdohospodárskej literatúry, Czechoslovakia. 342 pp.
Jakobsen BF, Moore GA, 1981. Effects of two types of skidders and of a slash cover on soil compaction by logging of mountain Ash. Aust For Res 11: 247-255.
Jim CY, 1993. Soil compaction as a constraint to tree growth in tropical and subtropical urban habitats. Environ Conserv 20: 35-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900037206
Kozlowski TT, 1999. Soil compaction and growth of woody plants. Scand J For Res 14:596-619. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02827589908540825
Langmaack M, Schrader S, Rapp-Bernhardt U, Kotzke K, 2002. Soil structure rehabilitation of arable soil degraded by compaction. Geoderma 105: 141-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(01)00097-0
Leutz R, Schaak H, Wiebel M, 1980. Oberflächenverdichtung bei Parabraunerden aus Lößlehm nach Einsatz schwerer Holzbringungsmaschinen (The surface compaction of loess cambisols caused by heavy forestry machines). Mitt d Ver f Forstl Standortskunde und Forstpflanzenzüchtung 28: 11-20.
Lousier JD, 1990. Impacts of forest harvesting and regeneration on forest sites. Land Management. Report Number 67.
Lukáč T, 2005. Viacoperačné stroje v lesnom hospodárstve (Multioperational machines in forestry), Vydavateľstvo Technickej Univerzity vo Zvolene, Zvolen, Slovak Republic, pp: 137.
Lüscher P, Frutig F, Sciacca S, Spjevak S, Thees O, 2009. Physikalischer Bodenschutz im Wald. Bodenschutz beim Einsatz von Forstmaschinen. (Physical soil conservation in forests. Soil protection from effects of forestry machines). WSL 45: 12 pp.
Makineci E, Demir M, Aydýn C, Yilmaz E, 2007. Effects of timber skidding on chemical characteristics of herbaceous cover, forest floor and topsoil on skid road in an Oak (Quercus petrea L.) Forest. J Terramechanics 44(6): 423-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jterra.2007.12.001
Malmer A, Grip H, 1990. Soil disturbance and loss of infiltrability caused by mechanized and manual extraction of tropical rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia. For Ecol Manage 38:1-12.
Miles JA, Hartsough BR, Avlani P, Chancellor WJ, 1981. A soil compaction study on the Blodgett experimental forest. Proc Symp on Engineering Systems for Forest Regeneration. Raleigh (USA), March 2–6, pp: 72-81.
Neruda J, Čermák J, Naděždina N, Ulrich R, Gebauer R, Vavříček D, Martinková M, Knott R, Prax A, Pokorný E, et al., 2008. Determination of damage to soil and root systems of forest trees by the operation of logging machines. Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. 138 pp.
Ole-Meilude REL, Njau WLM, 1989. Impact of logging equipment on water infiltration capacity at Olmotonyi, Tanzania. For Ecol Manage 26:207-213.
Owende PMO, Lyons J, Haarlaa R, Peltola A, Spinelli R, Molano J, Ward SM, 2002. Operations protocol for eco-efficient wood harvesting on sensitive sites. Project ECOWOOD, funded under the EU 5th framework project (Quality of life and management of living resources) Contract No. QLK5-1999-00991 (1999-2002), pp: 74.
Poršinsky T, 2005. Efficiency and environmental evaluation of Timberjack 1710B forwarder on roundwood extraction from croatian lowland forests. Doctoral thesis. Zagreb University, Zagreb.
Proto AR, Bernardi B, 2012. Evaluation of the soil compaction caused by passages of forwarder. Proc Conf. FORMEC 2012 Forest Engineering- Concern, Knowledge and Accountability in Today's Environment, Dubrovnik (Croatia), October 8 -12.
Rab MA, 2005. Review of factors affecting disturbance, compaction and trafficability of soils with particular reference to timber harvesting in the forests of south-west western Australia, Sustainable Forest Management Series, SFM Technical Report No. 2, pp: 146.
Sakai H, Nordfjell T, Suadicani K, Talbot B, Bollehuus E, 2008. Soil compaction on forest soils from different kinds of tires and tracks possibility of accurate estimate. Croat J For Eng 29:15-27.
Sands R, Bowen GD, 1978. Compaction of sandy soils in Radiata pine forests. II. Effects of compaction on root configuration and growth of radiata pine seedlings. Aust J For Res 8:163-170.
Scheer Ľ, 2010. Biometria (Biometry). Vydavateľstvo Technickej University vo Zvolene, Zvolen, Slovak Republic. 333 pp.
Schürger J, 2012. Zhodnotenie negatívneho vplyvu traktorových technológií na pôdu v lanovkových terénoch (Evaluation of the negative impact of skidders in cableway terrains), Doctoral thesis, Technical university in Zvolen, Zvolen.
Skoupý A (ed), 2011. Multikriteriálni hodnocení technologií pro soustřeďování dříví (Multicriterial evaluation of technologies of timber forwarding), LESNICKÁ PRÁCE, Praha, Czech Republic. 212 pp.
Sommer C, 1979. Befahrbarkeit und Bearbeitbarkeit (Trafficability and workability). Mitt. Dtsch. Bodenkundl. Gesellsch. 29, I -XIV.
Standish JT, Commandeur PR, Smith RB, 1988. Impacts of forest harvesting on physical properties of soils with reference to increased biomass recovery—a review. Inf Rep BC-X-301, B.C. Canadian Forest Service Pacific Forestry Research Centre.
Steinbrenner EC, 1955. The effects of repeated tractor trips on the physical properties of forest soils. Northwest Sci. 29:155-159.
Šimon J, Lhotský J, 1989. Zpracovaní a zúrodnení půd (Treatment and fertilization of soils). SZN Praha, Praha, Czech Republic. 317 pp.
Šmelko Š, 2007. Dendrometria (Dendrometry). Vydavateľstvo Technickej University vo Zvolene, Zvolen, Slovak Republic. 401 pp.
Tuttle CL, Golden MS, Meldahl RS, 1988. Soil compaction effects on Pinus taeda establishment from seed and early growth. Can J For Res 18: 628-632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x88-092
Ulrich R, Schlaghamerský A, Štorek V, 2003. Použití harvesterové technologie v probírkach (Using harvesters in thinnings). Skriptum Mendelova Univerzita v Brně, Brno, Czech Republic. 98 pp.
Williamson J, Neilson W, 2000. The influence of forest site on rate and extent of soil compaction and profile disturbance of skid trails during ground-based harvesting. Can J For Res 30: 1196-1205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x00-041
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the printed and online versions of this Journal are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International” (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 License must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the published by the Editor, is not allowed.
