Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest
The effects of machinery and livestock on forest soil compaction have mostly been studied at short-term and local scales. A better understanding of the long-term effects of compaction in mature stands at the management scale is needed, especially in hot and dry climates. This study aims to analyze (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/451 |
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| author | María José Aroca-Fernández José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández Juan Ignacio García-Viñas Rafael Serrada |
| author_facet | María José Aroca-Fernández José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández Juan Ignacio García-Viñas Rafael Serrada |
| author_sort | María José Aroca-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of machinery and livestock on forest soil compaction have mostly been studied at short-term and local scales. A better understanding of the long-term effects of compaction in mature stands at the management scale is needed, especially in hot and dry climates. This study aims to analyze (1) soil compaction in a Mediterranean Scots pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) forest subjected to mechanized logging and grazing for more than 50 years and (2) forest productivity trends during these 50 years of disturbance. Soil penetration resistance (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) and soil moisture (0–12 cm) were measured in 181 randomly selected points affected by “high machinery traffic”, “high cattle traffic” or “low traffic”. Decennial forest inventory data on density, timber volume, and recruitment were collected and analyzed over the five decades preceding soil measurements. Soil penetration resistance exceeded 2500 kPa at a significant portion of the sampled points, although the highest levels of compaction tended to be concentrated in the subsurface layer of the high-traffic areas. Cattle and machinery caused significant compaction in these areas and increased penetration resistance in the range of 350–450 kPa. However, despite the long period of disturbance and the increase in penetration resistance observed, no signs of productivity decline were detected in the forest. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:15:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5de6a7c079d545f1a7929b43574398ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:15:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-5de6a7c079d545f1a7929b43574398ce2024-03-27T13:41:38ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072024-02-0115345110.3390/f15030451Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) ForestMaría José Aroca-Fernández0José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández1Juan Ignacio García-Viñas2Rafael Serrada3ECOGESFOR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Nováis 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainECOGESFOR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Nováis 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainECOGESFOR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Nováis 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainIndependent Researcher, Pza. Pablo Iglesias 1, 19001 Guadalajara, SpainThe effects of machinery and livestock on forest soil compaction have mostly been studied at short-term and local scales. A better understanding of the long-term effects of compaction in mature stands at the management scale is needed, especially in hot and dry climates. This study aims to analyze (1) soil compaction in a Mediterranean Scots pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) forest subjected to mechanized logging and grazing for more than 50 years and (2) forest productivity trends during these 50 years of disturbance. Soil penetration resistance (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) and soil moisture (0–12 cm) were measured in 181 randomly selected points affected by “high machinery traffic”, “high cattle traffic” or “low traffic”. Decennial forest inventory data on density, timber volume, and recruitment were collected and analyzed over the five decades preceding soil measurements. Soil penetration resistance exceeded 2500 kPa at a significant portion of the sampled points, although the highest levels of compaction tended to be concentrated in the subsurface layer of the high-traffic areas. Cattle and machinery caused significant compaction in these areas and increased penetration resistance in the range of 350–450 kPa. However, despite the long period of disturbance and the increase in penetration resistance observed, no signs of productivity decline were detected in the forest.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/451penetration resistancesoil strengthlivestockmechanized loggingsandy loam soilsoil disturbances |
| spellingShingle | María José Aroca-Fernández José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández Juan Ignacio García-Viñas Rafael Serrada Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest Forests penetration resistance soil strength livestock mechanized logging sandy loam soil soil disturbances |
| title | Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest |
| title_full | Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest |
| title_fullStr | Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest |
| title_short | Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.) Forest |
| title_sort | soil compaction and productivity evolution in a harvested and grazed mediterranean scots pine i pinus sylvestris i l forest |
| topic | penetration resistance soil strength livestock mechanized logging sandy loam soil soil disturbances |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/451 |
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