The Influence of Soil Compaction and Aeration on the Root Growth and Vigour of Trees—a Literature Review. Part 1

Ruark, Gregory A.; Mader, Donald L.; Tattar, Terry A.

doi:10.1080/03071375.1982.9746581

Cited by 48 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The higher rates of decomposition at an air-filled porosity less than 0.10 m 3 m -3 (Fig. 5) indicate that some microbial groups can proliferate in these poorly aerated soils, while the growth of vascular plants is likely to be suppressed (Russell 1973;Ruark et al 1982;Froehlich and McNabb 1984).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil compaction can affect both the growth of roots and soil biota (Ruark et al 1982;Dick et al 1988). But the effect of soil compaction on soil biology varies.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Soil modification by forest harvesting equipment, particularly ground-based wheeled and tracked skidders, can significantly decrease soil macroporosity and increase soil strength (Greacen and Sands 1980;Froehlich and McNabb 1984;McNabb and Boersma 1993). Decreased macroporosity reduces the exchange of soil gases with the atmosphere causing the soil environment to become more anaerobic (Ruark et al 1982;Bird and Chatarpaul 1987).…”

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Soil biological activity in recent clearcuts in west-central Alberta

Startsev¹,

McNabb²,

Startsev³

1998

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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. 1998. Soil biological activity in recent clearcuts in west-central Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 78: 69-76. Soil biota response to changes in the soil physical environment following forest harvesting is relatively unknown in boreal forests. Soil biological activity was measured at four sites with Luvisolic soil following clear-cut forest harvesting. Aerobic respiration rate and cellulose decomposition in flooded soils were measured on soil samples collected from treatment plots subjected to tree removal only and tree removal associated with three levels of skidding activity immediately after clear-cut harvesting and after 1 and 2 yr. More than half of variation in respiration and cellulose decomposition rates was related to soil properties. Soil respiration rate increased significantly after 1 yr but was not affected by skidder traffic. Cellulose decomposition was highest in soil with air-filled porosity <0.10 m 3 m -3 , and increased significantly with skidder traffic. Air-filled porosity measured in the field at the time of harvest indicated a poorly aerated environment that becomes wetter in subsequent years. The results imply that soil had biota well adapted to poor soil aeration. The development of a fully anaerobic soil environment following forest harvesting only occurred on compacted soil after heavy precipitation, but partial anaerobiosis of these boreal forest soils was common. Although partial anaerobiosis increased decomposition rate, it is considered sufficient to adversely affect the growth of plant roots and change the availability and mobility of nutrients.Key words: Forest harvesting, soil compaction, biological activity, respiration rate, decomposition rate, Alberta, boreal forests Startsev, N. A., McNabb, D. H. et Startsev, A. D. 1998. Activité biologique du sol dans des coupes à blanc récentes dans le centre-ouest de l'Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 78: 69-76. On connaît relativement peu de choses sur la réponse de la faune et de la flore des sols forestiers aux modifications physiques du milieu tellurique résultant de la coupe du bois. Nous avons mesuré l'activité biologique du sol à 4 emplacements sur sols luvisoliques à la suite de coupes à blanc de la forêt. Le taux de respiration en aéro-biose ainsi que de décomposition de la cellulose en sols ennoyés étaient mesurés sur des échantillons de sol prélevés dans des parcelles exposées à l'enlèvement des arbres seul ou combiné à trois intensités de débardage mécanique, immédiatement après la coupe et 1 et 2 ans plus tard. Plus de la moitié de la variation des taux de respiration et des taux de décomposition de la cellulose était reliée aux propriétés du sol. Le taux d'activité respiratoire du sol augmentait significativement après un an mais ne semblait pas influencé par l'intensité des activités de débardage. L'activité cellulolytique la plus forte s'observait dans le sol ayant une porosité en air inférieure à 0,10 m 3 m -3 et elle augmentait significativement selon l'intensité des activités de débardage. La porosité en air mesuré à l'époque de l...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil compaction can affect both the growth of roots and soil biota (Ruark et al 1982;Dick et al 1988). But the effect of soil compaction on soil biology varies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Soil biological activity in recent clearcuts in west-central Alberta

Startsev¹,

McNabb²,

Startsev³

1998

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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“…Soil compaction reduces root respiration and growth through the combined effects of reduced aeration and impeded drainage (Ruark et al 1982). For aspen, other effects of soil disturbance such as injuries to root systems may better explain regeneration response than compaction alone (Zenner et al 2007).…”

Section: Tree Growth Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

KabzemsRichard

2012

The Forestry Chronicle

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Declines in forest productivity have been linked to losses of organic matter and soil porosity. To assess how removal of organic matter and soil compaction affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and year 1, 5 and 10 post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment plant community responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)-dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate [2-cm impression], heavy [5-cm impression]). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen (198 cm compared to 472-480 cm) as well as white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) height (82 cm compared to 154-156 cm). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At Year 10, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor + whole tree removal treatments. Recovery of soil properties was occurring in the 0 cm to 2 cm layer of mineral soil. Bulk density values for the 0 cm to 10 cm depth remained above 86% of the maximum bulk density for the site, a soil condition where reduced tree growth can be expected.Key words: long-term site productivity, boreal forest, Calamagrostis, site index RÉSUMÉ La diminution de la productivité forestière a été associée aux réductions de la matière organique et de la porosité du sol. Dans le but d' évaluer comment l' enlèvement de la matière organique et la compaction du sol affectent la dynamique de l' écosystème à court terme, les propriétés pédologiques et les réactions de l' ensemble des plantes avant traitement et un an, cinq ans et dix ans après traitement ont été étudiées dans le cas d'un écosystème dominé par le peuplier faux-tremble (Populus tremuloides Michx.) dans le nord-est de la Colombie-Britannique. Une conception totalement randomisée a été utilisée pour cette étude de l' enlèvement selon trois niveaux de la matière organique (tiges seulement; tiges et rémanents; tiges, rémanents et parterre forestier) et selon trois niveaux de compactage (aucun, intermédiaire [compactage de 2 cm], prononcé [compactage de 5 cm]. L' enlèvement du parterre forestier a initialement stimulé la régénération du tremble et significativement réduit la croissance en hauteur du tremble (198 cm comparativement à 472-480 cm) ainsi que dans le cas de l' épinette blanche (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) (82 cm comparativement à 154-156 cm). Les essais de compactage n' ont eu aucun effet sur la densité de la régénération du tremble. À la dixième année, la hauteur des trembles et des épinettes étaient négativement corrélées à la masse volumique apparente de l'horizon minéral supérieur du sol et était la plus faible dans le cas des traitements où le parterre forestier et l'arbre en entier...

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“…Soil compaction decreases the ability of aspen roots to grow because it increases soil resistance to penetration (Ruark et al, 1982;Standish et al, 1988) and reduces soil aeration which in turn increases root mortality as oxygen for respiration is limited . Soil compaction can also lead to root wounding although wounding can occur without soil compaction (Shepperd, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%