A detrimental soil disturbance prediction model for ground-based timber harvesting

Abstract

Soil properties and forest productivity can be affected during ground-based harvest operations and site preparation. The degree of impact varies widely depending on topographic features and soil properties. Forest managers who understand site-specific limits to ground-based harvesting can alter harvest method or season to limit soil disturbance. To determine the potential areal extent of detrimental (potentially plant growth limiting) soil disturbance based on site characteristics and season of harvest, we developed a predictive model based on soil monitoring data collected from 167 groundbased harvest units. Data collected included dominant site parameters (e.g., slope, aspect, soil texture, and landtype), harvest season, harvest type (intermediate or regeneration), and the machine(s) used during ground-based harvest operations. Aspect (p = 0.0217), slope (p = 0.0738), landtype (p = 0.0002), and the interaction of harvest season × landtype (p = 0.0002) were the key variables controlling the areal extent and magnitude of detrimental soil disturbance. For example, harvesting during non-winter months on gently rolling topography resulted in greater soil disturbance than similar harvest operations on landscapes that are highly dissected. This is likely due to the ease with which equipment can move off designated trails. A geospatially explicit predictive model was developed using general linear model variables found to significantly influence the areal extent of detrimental soil disturbance on nine defined landtypes. This tool provides a framework that, with local calibration, can be used on other forest lands as a decision support tool to geospatially depict landtypes susceptible to detrimental soil disturbance during ground-based harvest operations.Résumé : Les opérations de récolte et de préparation de terrain qui se déroulent sur le terrain peuvent avoir un impact sur les propriétés du sol et la productivité de la forêt. L'ampleur de l'impact varie énormément selon les caractéristiques topographiques et les propriétés du sol. Les aménagistes qui comprennent les limites inhérentes à chaque station pour la récolte sur le terrain peuvent modifier les méthodes de coupes ou la saison de récolte afin de minimiser la perturbation du sol. Pour déterminer l'étendue aréale potentielle des perturbations néfastes (qui peuvent limiter la croissance des plantes) du sol selon les caractéristiques de la station et la saison de récolte, nous avons élaboré un modèle de prédiction basé sur des données de suivi du sol collectées dans 167 unités de récolte sur le terrain. Les données qui ont été recueillies incluaient les principaux paramètres de la station (p. ex. pente, exposition, texture du sol et type de sol), la saison de récolte, le type de coupe (intermédiaire ou de régénération) et la machinerie utilisée lors des opérations de récolte sur le terrain. L'exposition (p = 0,0217), la pente (p = 0,0738), le type de sol (p = 0,0002) et l'interaction entre la saison de récolte et le type de sol (p = 0,0002) étaient les principales...

Modelling and mapping of soil damage caused by harvesting in Caspian forests (Iran) using CART and RF data mining techniques

“…Our results showed that forest sites with northeastern and eastern aspects are more exposed to damage than other aspects, probably due to microclimate-related conditions (Reeves et al 2012).…”

“…Soil damage susceptibility can be provided using a number of different techniques such as linear re-gression (Singh, Kushwaha 2011), generalized additive models (Goetz et al 2011), frequency ratio model (Pourghasemi et al 2012a), neurofuzzy (Manel et al 1999) and tree-based methods (Cutler et al 2007). Despite the widespread use of these methods in other sciences, they have been only limited to a linear model which is performed to predict soil damage in forest ecosystems (Sowa, Kulak 2008;Reeves et al 2012).…”

Extending theEU RenewableEnergyDirective sustainability criteria to solid bioenergy from forests

“…relevant (Reeves et al, 2012). Other studies acknowledge the importance of forest floor depth (all organic horizons), soil quantity of coarse fragments, and soil depth (Kimsey et al, 2011).…”

An operational UAV-based approach for stand-level assessment of soil disturbance after forest harvesting

“…For example, McMahon (1995) evaluated the 4 ha nearest the landing to estimate disturbance on a 26 ha site. Reeves et al (2012) walked line transects from stand boundary to boundary, perpendicular to skid trails. McNeel and Ballard (1992) laid out transects 4 m in width, at 20 m intervals across the entire stand, while Lanford and Stokes (1995) used a two-tier system, sampling disturbance perpendicularly to selected trails at 25 ft. (7.6 m) intervals, then systematically sampling stand-wise disturbance by installing 3 parallel lines across the site and evaluating conditions every 40 ft. (12 m) along these lines.…”