The Impact of Harvesting and Site Preparation on the Physical Properties of Lower Coastal Plain Forest Soils

Gent, J. A.; Ballard, R.; Hassan, Awatif E.

doi:10.2136/sssaj1983.03615995004700030041x

Cited by 69 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…Site preparation is commonly used by forest managers to reduce rotation time (Gent et al, 1983). Site preparation typically prepares the soil to facilitate planting and control vegetative competition.…”

Section: Site Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Operations and Water Quality in the South

Grace¹

2005

Transactions of the ASAE

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n recent years, nonpoint-source (NPS) pollution has been identified as perhaps the greatest threat to the nation's water quality (USEPA, 2003). The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977, a result of amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1972, has two primary goals for the achievement of objectives set forth in the CWA: eliminate discharge of pollutants into the nation's waters, and achieve water quality levels in the nation's waters that are fishable and swimmable. Today, the majority of the nation's waters meet water quality levels set forth in the goals of the CWA. The CWA established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the chief agency responsible for permitting, enforcing, and administrating the law to states. Section 208 of the CWA identified timber harvesting and silvicultural activities as NPS pollution sources. In Section 208, states were required to establish best management practices (BMPs) for forestry related activities to reduce NPS pollution.Section 303(d) of the CWA also established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program in an attempt to achieve "Cleaner Waters across America." The mission of the program is to ensure healthy watersheds and public health protection. The TMDL program identifies impaired waters, determines pollution reductions required for health, and ensures corrections to reduce NPS pollution. As of 1999, 20,000 of the nation's water bodies, including 300,000 river and shore miles and 5 million lake acres, were identified as polluted (USEPA, 1999). The reduction of runoff through more efficient use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides is an action suggested by the EPA for cleaner waters while TMDLs are developed. Within watersheds on 303(d) lists, many nonpoint sources are extremely difficult to pinpoint, measure, and control due to the intertwined land use categories within a given watershed. Possible nonpoint sources of sediments in managed forested lands include harvesting, roads, log decks, skid trails, and site preparation.Intensive management practices have been reported to influence water yield and quality. The use of intensive management practices in the South has made the region one of the most productive in the world (Prestemon and Abt, 2002). The use of intensive management practices in combination with the abundant water resources in the region increases the potential for water quality impacts. In this context, the South would likely be the optimal region to evaluate the extent and nature of the water quality impacts of forest operations. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the watershed research on the nature and extent of NPS pollution attributed to forest operations, specifically harvesting, site preparation, fertilization, and road construction and maintenance, in the South. This article also explores the role of BMPs in NPS issues related to forest operations.

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Section: Site Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Operations and Water Quality in the South

Grace¹

2005

Transactions of the ASAE

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“…In other words, the initial 5 passes exceptionally increase soil compaction whereas the following passes cause less soil compaction. Gent et al (1983) proved that in skidding operations using wheeled skidders, the severest compaction occurred at 10 cm depth of soil and the effect of compaction decreases with an increase in soil depth. In skidding trails that were used a lot, the soil compaction was reported at 30 cm depth.…”

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confidence: 96%

Soil compaction caused by 450C Timber Jack wheeled skidder (Shefarood forest, northern Iran)

Naghdi¹,

Bagheri²,

Akef³

et al. 2007

J. For. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:In forest harvesting operations usually after using skidding machinery (skidders), traces of soil damage in the form of soil compaction and wheel and logs ruts can be seen in the forest soil. Soil bulk density, which represents soil compaction, decreases soil porosity, infiltration rate and aeration and these in turn increase runoff and water erosion in the harvested area. On the other hand, a decrease in soil aeration prevents root growth and decreases the vegetative cover. In this study the changes in soil bulk density and relative soil compaction due to a different number of wheeled skidder passes from stump to landing for two soil types (clay soil with high and low liquid limits, CH, CL) are analyzed. The results showed that the effect of skidder traffic on an increase in soil bulk density at sample locations was significant (α = 0.05). The range of soil bulk density increases in sample pits due to a different number of machinery passes was from 15.8% to 62.6% compared to the control area. The findings of this research showed that the interaction effect of skidder traffic and soil type on soil bulk density changes was not significant. Also the highest significant increase in soil bulk density occurred at the first 11 passes in skidding trails and from this number of passes onwards there was no significant difference in the soil bulk density increase in sample locations. 315In a study carried out by Jansson and Johansson (1998), the effect of wheeled and tracked machinery was studied on soil bulk density in silt loam soil in Sweden. The results showed that average bulk density increased 23% and 14% at 15 and 20 cm depth, respectively, after two passes of wheeled forwarder machinery (20 ton weight). The traffic of wheeled machinery at the first pass produces the highest compaction in soil and the following machinery passes have a lower effect, but overall soil compaction is produced which significantly affects the root growth (Hatchel et al. 1988). Studies by Burger et al. (1985) showed that the number of machinery passes significantly affects soil bulk density and the soil bulk density of top soil increases very rapidly in the first three passes and the following passes have a lower effect.Skidding operations are the most common way of causing soil compaction (Senyk, Craigdallie 1997). The skidding machinery is designed and manufactured in a way so that it can transport heavy loads in off-road conditions. Hence a major part of soil degradation occurs on skid trails and landings due to skidding operations (Heninger et al. 2002). Froehlich and Mcnabb (1984) came to the conclusion that the initial few passes of skidder have the highest compaction effect on soil. In other words, the initial 5 passes exceptionally increase soil compaction whereas the following passes cause less soil compaction. Gent et al. (1983) proved that in skidding operations using wheeled skidders, the severest compaction occurred at 10 cm depth of soil and the effect of compaction decreases with an increase in soil depth. In skidd...

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“…For example, Gent et al (1983) investigated the effect of harvesting and site preparation on soil physical properties of a 25-year-old loblolly pine plantation with Onslow (Spodic Paleudult, fine loamy, siliceous, thermic) and Rains (Typic Paleaquult, fine loamy, siliceous, thermic) soil series in the Lower Coastal Plain. Harvesting and site preparation were found to increase bulk density and decrease total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity (k sat ) in the first 8-cm below the soil surface and in the first 15-cm of depth in skid trails.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%