The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites
This study discusses the influence of soil compaction on runoff generation with a special focus on forested Andosol sites. Because of their typical soil physical characteristics (low bulk density, high pore volumes) and the existent land use, these areas are expected to show low to no measurable ove...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/5/204 |
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| author | Julian J. Zemke Michel Enderling Alexander Klein Marc Skubski |
| author_facet | Julian J. Zemke Michel Enderling Alexander Klein Marc Skubski |
| author_sort | Julian J. Zemke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study discusses the influence of soil compaction on runoff generation with a special focus on forested Andosol sites. Because of their typical soil physical characteristics (low bulk density, high pore volumes) and the existent land use, these areas are expected to show low to no measurable overland flow during heavy rainfall events. However, due to heavy machinery traffic in the course of forestry actions and pumice excavations, skid trails have been established. Here, a distinct shift of soil dry bulk density (DBD) was observable, using a detailed soil mapping and data interpolation in order to generate in-depth DBD-cross profiles. Additionally, infiltration measurements and rainfall simulations (I = 45 mm·h<sup>−1</sup>, t = 30 min) were conducted to evaluate effects of observed soil compaction on infiltration rates and overland flow formation. Results show that soil compaction was increased by 21% on average in skid trail wheel ruts. As a consequence, observed runoff was 8.5-times higher on skid trails, while saturated hydraulic conductivity was diminished by 36%. These findings show, that soil compaction leads to a higher possibility of runoff formation during heavy rainfall events, especially at sites which showed initial conditions with presumably low tendencies of runoff formation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:03:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99479baffc324320bc13cf0d44ac7bfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:03:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-99479baffc324320bc13cf0d44ac7bfc2022-12-21T18:19:15ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632019-05-019520410.3390/geosciences9050204geosciences9050204The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol SitesJulian J. Zemke0Michel Enderling1Alexander Klein2Marc Skubski3Department of Geography, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, 1, 56070 Koblenz, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, 1, 56070 Koblenz, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, 1, 56070 Koblenz, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, 1, 56070 Koblenz, GermanyThis study discusses the influence of soil compaction on runoff generation with a special focus on forested Andosol sites. Because of their typical soil physical characteristics (low bulk density, high pore volumes) and the existent land use, these areas are expected to show low to no measurable overland flow during heavy rainfall events. However, due to heavy machinery traffic in the course of forestry actions and pumice excavations, skid trails have been established. Here, a distinct shift of soil dry bulk density (DBD) was observable, using a detailed soil mapping and data interpolation in order to generate in-depth DBD-cross profiles. Additionally, infiltration measurements and rainfall simulations (I = 45 mm·h<sup>−1</sup>, t = 30 min) were conducted to evaluate effects of observed soil compaction on infiltration rates and overland flow formation. Results show that soil compaction was increased by 21% on average in skid trail wheel ruts. As a consequence, observed runoff was 8.5-times higher on skid trails, while saturated hydraulic conductivity was diminished by 36%. These findings show, that soil compaction leads to a higher possibility of runoff formation during heavy rainfall events, especially at sites which showed initial conditions with presumably low tendencies of runoff formation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/5/204rainfall simulationsoil compactionoverland flowforest hydrologyAndosolsoil hydrologyinfiltration |
| spellingShingle | Julian J. Zemke Michel Enderling Alexander Klein Marc Skubski The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites Geosciences rainfall simulation soil compaction overland flow forest hydrology Andosol soil hydrology infiltration |
| title | The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites |
| title_full | The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites |
| title_short | The Influence of Soil Compaction on Runoff Formation. A Case Study Focusing on Skid Trails at Forested Andosol Sites |
| title_sort | influence of soil compaction on runoff formation a case study focusing on skid trails at forested andosol sites |
| topic | rainfall simulation soil compaction overland flow forest hydrology Andosol soil hydrology infiltration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/5/204 |
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