The influence of some forest operations on the sustainable management of forest soils - a review

Modifying harvesting time as a tool to reduce nutrient export by timber extraction: a case study in planted teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests in Costa Rica

“…Nevertheless, the high amount of biomass accumulated in the tree stem makes it an important nutrient sink. As a consequence, the loss of nutrients through wood removal at harvesting is considered a major cause of nutrient impoverishment in forest sites (Rennie 1955, Fölster & Khanna 1997, Worrel & Hampson 1997. Our results show that the trunk nutrient concentration varies over the course of the year (Fig.…”

“…At the same time, forest managers are becoming increasingly concerned about the relationship between forest nutrition, soil management and sustainable timber production, with the challenge of maintaining high productivity rates over several rotations, especially in short-rotation plantations (Nambiar 1995, Fox 2000. Repeated nutrient export through timber harvesting over several rotations could cause soil nutrient depletion (Miller 1984, Fölster & Khanna 1997, Worrel & Hampson 1997, Merino et al 2005 and this may underlie the observed decrease in forest productivity over time (Rennie 1955, Evans 2009). This need to replace the nutrients lost (e.g., by fertilization) has traditionally been ignored by forest managers (Fölster & Khanna 1997), although FSC (2004 and other authors (Rennie 1955, Worrel & Hampson 1997, Merino et al 2005 recommend the application of fertilizer to sustain short-cycle plantation productivity.…”

“…Repeated nutrient export through timber harvesting over several rotations could cause soil nutrient depletion (Miller 1984, Fölster & Khanna 1997, Worrel & Hampson 1997, Merino et al 2005 and this may underlie the observed decrease in forest productivity over time (Rennie 1955, Evans 2009). This need to replace the nutrients lost (e.g., by fertilization) has traditionally been ignored by forest managers (Fölster & Khanna 1997), although FSC (2004 and other authors (Rennie 1955, Worrel & Hampson 1997, Merino et al 2005 recommend the application of fertilizer to sustain short-cycle plantation productivity. Although nutrient inputs (mainly wet and dry depositions and mineral weathering) may partially compensate for these nutrient extractions, this is usually not sufficient when the extraction is high and/or the rotations are short (Worrel & Hampson 1997).…”

“…This need to replace the nutrients lost (e.g., by fertilization) has traditionally been ignored by forest managers (Fölster & Khanna 1997), although FSC (2004 and other authors (Rennie 1955, Worrel & Hampson 1997, Merino et al 2005 recommend the application of fertilizer to sustain short-cycle plantation productivity. Although nutrient inputs (mainly wet and dry depositions and mineral weathering) may partially compensate for these nutrient extractions, this is usually not sufficient when the extraction is high and/or the rotations are short (Worrel & Hampson 1997).…”

Responses of Ground-Dwelling Invertebrates to Gap Formation and Accumulation of Woody Debris from Invasive Species, Wind, and Salvage Logging

“…Ground-based salvage logging methods that use heavy machinery, roads, and skid trails for timber removal increase erosion and compaction of organic and mineral soil layers [110,111]. Following salvage operations, increased bulk density has been detected 15-60 cm below the soil surface [110,[112][113][114][115] with changes to soil structure that decreased aeration, porosity, water infiltration and retention, gas exchange, and root growth [103,105,106,112,[116][117][118]. Soil erosion and compaction are predicted to have the greatest effects on ground-dwelling invertebrates immediately after the salvaging operation (Table 1), and relax slowly over time as the organic layer accumulates and compaction decreases.…”