Soil recovery from track construction and harvesting changes in surface infiltration, erosion and delivery rates with time

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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confidence: 99%

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

Agherkakli¹,

Najafi²,

Sadeghi³

2010

“…As mentioned above and revealed by other authors like Croke et al (2001), most of the erosion related to forest operations is typically from forest roads, skid trails and logging. Thus, drainage and rehabilitation of forest roads and skid trails are essential processes in the management of sediment movement and prevention of off-side impacts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…On steep slopes, runoff affected by the slope gradient leads to increasing soil erosion (Fox, Bryan 1999). Water diversions are used in forestry operations to mitigate the impact of logging because water diversion is a major region of sediment deposition (Croke et al 2001;Wallbrink, Croke 2002). Because of the cost involved in constructing and maintaining water diversions, it is important to determine their location.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing erosion from forest roads and skid trails by management practices

Akbarimehr¹,

Naghdi²

2012

A road network in forest lands provides easy access to forest resources for extraction, regeneration, protection and recreation activities. Erosion from forest roads and skid trails is a major concern in forest management due to the capability to cause adverse environmental effects. The objective of this paper is to introduce two methods for reducing erosion on forest roads and skid trails: water diversion and vegetation cover. Factors affecting erosion on forest roads and skid trails are climate, quality of forest road surfacing material, traffic, slope and vegetation cover. There are several management practices to mitigate the impact of logging and forest road and skid trail construction on stream water quality. Sediments delivered to streams from roads and skid trails lead to a number of dramatic effects on water quality and aquatic life. These management practices were found to be effective in controlling and reducing the runoff volume and soil erosion. Therefore, management and maintenance of forest roads and skid trails are essential elements to mitigate erosion.

“…Soil compaction has been considered as the principal form of damage associated with harvesting traffic. Compaction increases soil bulk density, decreases water and air movement into soil and increases surface runoff and erosion (Williamson, Neilson 2000;Croke et al 2001;Adekalu et al 2006;Ampoorter et al 2007;Makineci et al 2007;Agherkakli et al 2010;Ampoorter et al 2010). So, water must be delivered off skid trails before it causes erosion and sedimentation impacts on water quality (Grace, Clinton 2007;Uhířová et al 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The aim of these practices is runoff and soil loss controlling on skid trails for reducing environmental effects. Creation of water diversions makes it possible to control runoff and is a very effective strategy for reducing soil detachment and movement (Croke et al 2001). Solgi (2007) considered the amount of soil disturbance by skidder on skid trails and found that runoff was affected by the number of traffic and slope length.…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessing the relationship of slope and runoff volume on skid trails (Case study: Nav 3 district)

Akbarimehr¹,

Naghdi²

2012

ABSTRACT:The effect of slope on runoff volume was evaluated on skid trails in the natural forest in the north of Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between runoff volume and slope in order to control runoff and skid trail maintenance by using water diversions. Two levels of slope > 20% and < 20% were studied in adjacent parcels in district 3 of Nav in Asalem. Treatment plots with three replications were established on skid trails after skidding and the runoff volume was recorded after duration of 3 rainfalls. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between slope steepness and runoff volume, and between runoff volume and slope length (P < 0.05). Also, regression analysis results showed that there was a linear relation between runoff volume, slope length and slope steepness. Effective recommendations to control and decrease runoff volume are precise scheduling of skid trail designing, construction, maintenance and limiting skid trails to a longitudinal slope of less than 20% and rehabilitation of skid trails by using water diversions.