The impact of intensive forest management practices on soil physical properties was examined by collecting intact, 7.6‐cm diameter soil core samples to a depth of 30 cm before harvest, after harvest, and after site preparation in plots established in primary skid trails and areas receiving whole‐tree and conventional tree‐length harvesting treatments. Site preparation for all plots was shear, burn, chop, and bed. Harvesting increased bulk density and decreased aeration porosity in all sampled areas. Significant changes in these properties were detected to the 30‐cm depth in the skid trail plots. However, significant changes in the whole‐tree and tree‐length plots were limited to the upper 15 cm of soil. Harvesting also significantly decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity to a depth of 8 cm in the skid trail plots and 15 cm in the tree‐length plots but had no significant effect in the whole‐tree plots. Bedding proved to be effective in offsetting soil compaction in the whole‐tree and tree‐length plots by forming a new soil surface, 19 cm in height, over the surface which was trafficked during harvest. Bedding may not be as effective in the skid trail plots because the soil found at the original surface under the bed was compacted to the extent that root growth may be inhibited.

The impact of intensive forest management practices on soil bulk density, aeration porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity was examined to a depth of 0.3 m before harvest, after harvest, and after site preparation. Harvesting caused significant changes in soil physical properties to an average depth of 0.17 m in whole tree harvest plots and 0.22 m in skid trail plots. Disking was effective in restoring soil physical properties to preharvest levels in the upper 0.07 to 0.12 m of soil. Soil compaction in chop/burn plots may result in reduced root growth because of mechanical impedance, reduced aeration, or both.

The impact of intensive forest management practices on the physical properties of a Typic Paleudult was examined to a depth of 0.3 m by collecting 7.6‐cm core samples before harvest, after harvest, and after site preparation. Whole‐tree harvesting of a 22‐yr‐old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation caused significant changes in bulk density to a depth of 0.23 m outside of skid trails, and 0.30 m in primary skid trails. Subsequent chop/burn and shear/windrow site preparation treatments had little added impact on bulk density. Post site preparation differences in aeration porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity among treatments were nonsignificant.

Trafficking during harvesting significantly increased soil bulk density to depths of 3 to 6 inches in areas outside of primary skid trails and 9 to 12 inches in primary skid trails. On the Coastal Plain site, bedding was effective in offsetting soil compaction in areas outside of primary skid trails, forming a new soil surface, 7 to 8 inches in height, over the surface trafficked during harvest. Bedding may not be so effective in the skid trails, because the original soil surface under the bed was so compacted that root growth may be inhibited. On the Piedmont site, disking was effective in restoring bulk density to preharvest levels in the upper 3 to 5 inches of soil, but soil compaction in the upper 3 to 9 inches of drum-chopped areas may result in reduced root growth, because of mechanical impedance.

Thirteen-year growth of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) was examined on 9 poorly drained Lower Coastal Plain sites following bedding and/or application of phosphorus (P) at time of planting. Fertilization dramatically increased height and diameter growth during the first 13 years on all 9 study sites. Height and diameter growth were consistently better in fertilized and bedded plots than in flat-planted, bed-only, and fertilizer-only plots. Comparisons of height growth curves indicate that differences between fertilized and nonfertilized plots are continuing. Foliar and soil P levels in fertilized plots at age 13 suggest that growth on these sites may be increased by additional applications of P. Projection of response to rotation age indicates that the combination of fertilization and bedding results in the greatest total cubic-foot volume and after-tax net present value. South. J. Appl. For. 10:124-28, Aug. 1986.