Soil properties influencing compactability of forest soils in British Columbia

Abstract

Soil properties influencing compactability of forest soils in British Columbia. Can. J. Soil Sci. 84: 219-226. The widespread use of heavy machinery during harvesting and site preparation in timber plantations in British Columbia (BC) has led to concerns that compaction causes a reduction in long-term soil productivity. Impacts of properties such as total C, water content, and texture on compactability of forest soils in BC were assessed. Two compactability indices were used: maximum bulk density (MBD) and susceptibility to compaction (SC) determined by the standard Proctor test. Soil samples were collected from 16 sites throughout BC covering a wide range of biogeoclimatic zones. Soils varied in texture (12 to 87% sand, 9 to 76% silt, and 2 to 53% clay) and organic matter content (18 to 76 g kg -1 total C). A strong negative correlation was observed between MBD and gravimetric water content at which MBD was achieved (W MBD ) and between MBD and total C. Similarly, W MBD and total C had strong effects on SC. The estimation of either MBD or SC values was not substantially improved by including texture parameters to the regression equations in addition to the total C. The implication of the relationships observed in this study is that increases in soil organic matter reduce the risk of compactability, which is particularly important for forest soils where compaction is generally not corrected by implements after tree planting. The information is also useful for assessing the extent of compaction on soils affected by machine traffic.Key words: Soil compaction, Susceptibility to compaction, maximum bulk density, Proctor test, total carbon Krzic, M., Bulmer, C. E., Teste, F., Dampier, L. et Rahman, S. 2004. Propriétés exerçant une influence sur la compactibilité des sols forestiers de la Colombie-Britannique. Can. J. Soil Sci. 84: 219-226. L'usage largement répandu de machinerie lourde lors de l'aménagement des sites forestiers et de la récolte du bois en Colombie-Britannique laisse craindre un compactage qui pourrait réduire la productivité des sols à long terme. Les auteurs ont évalué l'incidence de certains paramètres comme la concentration totale de C, la teneur en eau et la texture sur la compactibilité des sols forestiers dans la province. Pour cela, ils ont utilisé deux indices : la masse volumique apparente maximale (MVAM) et la sensibilité au compactage (SC) telle qu'établie par le test normalisé de Proctor. Des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés à 16 endroits un peu partout dans la province de manière à couvrir une large éventail de zones biogéoclimatiques. La texture (12 à 87 % de sable, 9 à 76 % de limon et 2 à 53 % d'argile) et la teneur en matière organique (18 à 76 g de carbone par kg) des sols varient. On a relevé une forte corrélation négative entre la MVAM et la teneur en eau gravifique à laquelle on l'atteint (W MVAM ) ainsi qu'entre la MVAM et le C total. De même, la W MVAM et le C total exercent une forte influence sur la SC. L'inclusion des paramètres de la texture aux équations de régression,...

Aspen and white spruce productivity is reduced by organic matter removal and soil compaction

“…The timing of recovery of soil properties from soil disturbance varies with factors such as the original degree of disturbance (McNabb et al 2001), climate (Page-Dumroese et al 2006), soil texture (Steber et al 2007), organic matter content (Krzic et al 2004), and depth being considered (Zenner et al 2007). Upper mineral soil bulk density at this site was still significantly greater on the compaction treatments after 10 years, similar to the 10-year results of the LTSP network (Powers et al 2005), the 11 years of Puettmann et al (2008) and 12 years of Shepperd (1993), but in contrast to the return to pre-disturbance bulk density within 10 years documented by Bockheim et al (2005).…”

“…Note: LUBD = log transformation of upper mineral soil bulk density year 10; CC% = square root transformation of % Calamagrostis cover at Year 10; OM3= removal of the forest floor, dummy variable; L∆BD = log transformation of pre-to post-treatment change in upper mineral soil bulk density. The use of relative bulk density can provide a quantitative comparison of compaction over a range of soil textures (Krzic et al 2004). Relative bulk density is the ratio of soil bulk density to a reference density (Hakansson and Lipiec 2000), often a maximum bulk density value determined by a Proctor test (ASTM n.d.).…”

“…Relative bulk density is the ratio of soil bulk density to a reference density (Hakansson and Lipiec 2000), often a maximum bulk density value determined by a Proctor test (ASTM n.d.). Using the maximum bulk density value of 1.40 Mg m -3 for the study site from Krzic et al (2004), even the uncompacted treatment had a relative bulk density value over 0.8. Such a high value demonstrates that compaction of the mineral soil is a management concern on this site, as a small change would increase the relative bulk density into the range where growth reductions have been documented (Bulmer and Simpson 2010).…”

Qualidade física de Latossolo Amarelo de tabuleiros costeiros em diferentes sistemas de manejo da cana-de-açúcar

“…Krzic et al (2004) comprovaram, investigando o efeito da matéria orgânica do solo sobre o grau de compactação ou densidade relativa do solo, que o incremento de 1% no teor de carbono orgânico reduz, independentemente da textura do solo, a densidade relativa máxima do solo em 11%; esses resultados confirmam a importância da adoção de sistemas de manejo que promovam o aumento no teor de matéria orgânica do solo.…”

Compactabilidade de um Latossolo Amarelo distrocoeso dos tabuleiros costeiros de Alagoas sob diferentes sistemas de manejo da cana-de-açúcar

“…a matéria orgânica do solo repercute no valor da densidade máxima do solo, tanto pela melhoria na estabilidade estrutural do solo, como pelo fato de a densidade dela ser menor do que a dos sólidos do solo. Krzic et al (2004), investigando o efeito da matéria orgânica do solo sobre o grau de compactação ou densidade relativa do solo, comprovaram que o incremento de 1 % no teor de carbono orgânico reduz, independentemente da textura do solo, a densidade relativa máxima do solo em aproximadamente 11 %. esses resultados confirmam a importância da adoção de sistemas de manejo que promovam o aumento no teor de matéria orgânica do solo.…”