A review of chemical and physical properties as indicators of forest soil quality: challenges and opportunities

Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Miegroet, Helga Van; Burger, James A.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(00)00423-0

Cited by 640 publications

(387 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…However, the large ground contact area of this machine results in high tractive efficiencies, low ground pressures and good stability on steep slopes. The rut depth is often the only criterion that forest managers have to assess soil damage as harvesting occurs (Lacey, Ryan 2000) and is often used in visual assessments of site productivity changes because they indicate changes in infiltration, erosion, water retention and the water-air balance as an early indicator of altered productivity (Schoenholtz et al 2000). Common descriptors include undisturbed and three categories of disturbance: light disturbance, with shallow scarification; moderate disturbance, secondary skid trails or compaction and/or rutting up to 5-8 cm deep; heavy disturbance, primary skid trails, landings, or rutting at least 10-15 cm deep (Grigal 2000).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground based operation effects on soil disturbance by steel tracked skidder in a steep slope of forest

Agherkakli¹,

Najafi²,

Sadeghi³

2010

J. For. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:In this study, the effects of slope and traffic intensity on soil compaction, rutting and forest floor removal was evaluated on a skid trail in the natural forest of north of Iran. Combination of two levels of slope < 20% (SC1) and > 20% (SC2) and three levels of traffic (one, five and nine traffics) were studied. Treatment plots, with three replications, were established on the skid trail prior to skidding. The results of this study showed that all bulk densities were considerably higher in SC2 than in SC1 and average soil bulk densities were measured from 1.07 (g•cm -3 ) to 1.23 (g•cm -3 ) on skid trail and 0.91 (g•cm -3 ) in undisturbed areas. With the increment of traffic, soil compaction increased but there was no significant difference among the three levels of traffic frequency in SC1 whereas it was significant between one and five cycles in SC2. Greatest rut depth was measured as 12 cm at nine traffics in SC2, although increase of traffic density caused deeper rut depth at all slope treatments, but it was higher at the SC2 in comparison to SC1. Litter mass decreased considerably on the skid trail with the increasing in slope and traffic. No important difference has been detected between SC1 and SC2 in terms of Litter mass removal. These results provide clear evidence that soil disturbance on steep trail is intensified. 279Several studies have examined the relationship between soil disturbance and the associated number of loaded machine passes. The majority of previous studies investigated the effects of wheeled skidders on soil disturbance while a few studies assessed the impacts of steel tracked skidders whereas in many forest areas, particularly in steep terrain with large trees and high precipitation rates, these machines are likely to remain the most common type of skidding machine used.In mountainous and steep areas, the terrain slope is an important factor that affects operational efficiency, costs and erosion. It may also affect the soil compaction, so in planning forest operations and aligning skid trails the terrain slope may be an important consideration for protecting soil resources (Jamshidi et al. 2008).The objectives of this investigation were to (1) assess the soil disturbance after ground based logging by a steel tracked skidder and (2) determine the effects of slope on the soil disturbance in a skid trail. MATERIAL AND METHODSA field study was conducted at a Forestry Experimental Station of Tarbiat Modares University, located in a temperate forest in the north of Iran, between 36°31'56''N and 36°32'11''N latitudes and 51°47'49''E and 51°47'56''E longitudes, in February 2008. The elevation is approximately 650 m a.s.l. with western aspect, while the average annual rainfall of 1,308 mm has been recorded.The natural vegetation is a deciduous forest with dominant species of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus [L.]) and beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky).Soil samples for detecting the soil texture were collected at ten random points from the top of the 50 cm deep soil profile from an undistu...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground based operation effects on soil disturbance by steel tracked skidder in a steep slope of forest

Agherkakli¹,

Najafi²,

Sadeghi³

2010

J. For. Sci.

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“…Chemical attributes have been correlated with plant yields and thus the variations of a particular indicator are easily interpreted, and allow a quick improvement of the soil chemical properties by liming and/or fertilization. These soil chemical indicators can also be useful in considering the soil's capacity for sustaining forest production and sustainability, maintaining nutrient cycling, plant biomass and organic matter (Schoenholtz et al, 2000). Idowu et al (2008) selected a set of parameters to characterize the soil health among 39 physical, chemical and biological attributes and correlated them with plant growth and yield, in soils under different tillage, rotation and cover cropping, in commercial production fields in New York State, USA.…”

Section: Chemical Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, different microbial groups are differently affected by water restrictions in soil. For example, bacteria have restricted movement in drier soils in which gregate stability are also correlated with hydrological processes like erosion, aeration, runoff, infiltration rate, and water holding capacity (Schoenholtz et al, 2000). In general, a soil is considered physically poor when it shows low rates of water infiltration, enhanced surface runoff, poor cohesion, low aeration and root density, and difficulty for mechanization (Dexter, 2004).…”

Section: Physical Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil health: looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health?

Cardoso¹,

Vasconcellos²,

Bini³

et al. 2013

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

418

220

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Soil Health refers to the ecological equilibrium and the functionality of a soil and its capacity to maintain a well balanced ecosystem with high biodiversity above and below surface, and productivity. To understand and use soil health as a tool for sustainability, physical, chemical, and biological properties must be employed to verify which respond to the soil use and management within a desired timescale. Attributes with a rapid response to natural or anthropogenic actions are considered good indicators of soil health. Among the physical indicators, soil texture, aggregation, moisture, porosity, and bulk density have been used, while among chemical indicators total C and N, mineral nutrients, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, among others are well established. However, most of them generally have a slow response, when compared to the biological ones, such as microbial biomass C and N, biodiversity, soil enzymes, soil respiration, etc., in addition to macro and mesofauna. Thus, a systemic approach based on different kinds of indicators (physical, chemical and biological) in assessing soil health would be safer than using only one kind of attribute. Many human activities have caused desertification, loss of biodiversity, disruption of aggregates, loss of organic matter and nutrients, among others. Today, it is imperious to maintain soil health and productivity with increasing emphasis on reforestation and recuperation of degraded areas through the use of organic amendments, reintroduction of plants, soil fauna and microorganisms. This review focused on an integrative view on indicators of soil health to be used as tools for prediction of sustainability in production systems.

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“…Therefore, the natural presence of Pistacia atlantica in these regions insists the appropriateness of the chemical and physical conditions and geomorphological situation. SCHOENHOLTZ et al [2000] emphasized that the natural growth deficiency followed the undesired interaction between plants and the soil physico-chemical properties. Furthermore, based on BINKLEY and GIARDINA 'S [1998] finding similar soil test results, despite the difference in their locations, shows their vulnerability towards the growth of a particular species of tree that is compatible with ecological conditions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Range of soil and climate characteristics appropriate for Pistacia atlantica forest development and rehabilitation (case study: Fars province, Iran)

Nejabat¹,

Negahdarsaber²,

Ghahari³

2017

Journal of Water and Land Development

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Investigation of ranges of soil and climate characteristics appropriate for the tolerant species: Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica according to field study was the main objective of this research. This study was carried out based on random sampling across 20×20 km wild pistachio forests of Fars province (Iran). Results showed that mountainous and hilly lands are the main land types that pistachio species have evolved on. Statistical analysis of physical and chemical soil characteristics based on principal component analysis (PCA) method showed that wide ranges in soil characteristics, even up to about 40% differentiation in some measured properties, did not restricts this subspecies natural growth. The main growth limiting factors were shallow soil depth and light soil texture that decreased storage capacity of soil moisture, necessary for wild pistachios survival during drought and long dry periods. Climatic elements were analysed through the same approach and showed that temperature, precipitation and wind with overall variability of 85.9% were the most effectual factors. Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica is one of the species refractory to various soil conditions and adapted to weak soils for the establishment and rehabilitation of forests in semi-arid regions.

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A review of chemical and physical properties as indicators of forest soil quality: challenges and opportunities

Cited by 640 publications

References 60 publications

Ground based operation effects on soil disturbance by steel tracked skidder in a steep slope of forest

Ground based operation effects on soil disturbance by steel tracked skidder in a steep slope of forest

Soil health: looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health?

Range of soil and climate characteristics appropriate for Pistacia atlantica forest development and rehabilitation (case study: Fars province, Iran)

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