Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass

Any movements of forest machines under the forest canopy are harmful for the stand. Their tracks and wheels damage the soil surface: strip off the litter, disturb the sequence of horizons, alter soil hydro-physical properties. These impacts affect the root content of soils. Especially sensitive in t...

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Main Author: A. Yu. Karpechko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch Publishing House 2019-10-01
Series:Сибирский лесной журнал
Subjects:
Online Access:http://xn--80abmehbaibgnewcmzjeef0c.xn--p1ai/upload/iblock/86f/86f1e5c8eb03eaca01dde815dc0b7cdf.pdf
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author A. Yu. Karpechko
author_facet A. Yu. Karpechko
author_sort A. Yu. Karpechko
collection DOAJ
description Any movements of forest machines under the forest canopy are harmful for the stand. Their tracks and wheels damage the soil surface: strip off the litter, disturb the sequence of horizons, alter soil hydro-physical properties. These impacts affect the root content of soils. Especially sensitive in this sense is the spruce, whose roots are mostly concentrated in the topsoil which is disturbed by vehicles. To address the problem of stand damage, it is essential to wisely choose the logging technology and machinery. The widely used practices in Karelia are tree-length skidding by crawler tractors, as well as cut-to-length harvesting. The study aimed to assess the effect of various partial cut practices on soil density and the mass of spruce roots up to 3 mm thick in the middle taiga of Karelia. Soil density was studied in skid trails and in the interior of forest blocks not accessed by machines; root masses were compared. The method of soil monoliths sampled from skid trails and blocks throughout the logging area was used. Cutting to length by machines (harvester + forwarder) was found to cause the heaviest topsoil compaction, as compared to mechanized cut-to-length harvesting (chain-saw + forwarder) or tree-length skidding. Root mass in the trail and inside the block, where machines did not reach, remained different for 12 subsequent years whichever practice was used. The difference was the greatest in the first several years after logging. Soil density in the trail recovered at a faster rate than the root mass.
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2312-2099
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spelling doaj.art-da765a214d234e4c9b6cd93c89c1255f2022-12-21T22:53:02ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch Publishing HouseСибирский лесной журнал2311-14102312-20992019-10-0165374210.15372/SJFS20190505Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root massA. Yu. Karpechko0Forest Research Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences Federal Research Center Karelian Scientific Center, Russian Academy of SciencesAny movements of forest machines under the forest canopy are harmful for the stand. Their tracks and wheels damage the soil surface: strip off the litter, disturb the sequence of horizons, alter soil hydro-physical properties. These impacts affect the root content of soils. Especially sensitive in this sense is the spruce, whose roots are mostly concentrated in the topsoil which is disturbed by vehicles. To address the problem of stand damage, it is essential to wisely choose the logging technology and machinery. The widely used practices in Karelia are tree-length skidding by crawler tractors, as well as cut-to-length harvesting. The study aimed to assess the effect of various partial cut practices on soil density and the mass of spruce roots up to 3 mm thick in the middle taiga of Karelia. Soil density was studied in skid trails and in the interior of forest blocks not accessed by machines; root masses were compared. The method of soil monoliths sampled from skid trails and blocks throughout the logging area was used. Cutting to length by machines (harvester + forwarder) was found to cause the heaviest topsoil compaction, as compared to mechanized cut-to-length harvesting (chain-saw + forwarder) or tree-length skidding. Root mass in the trail and inside the block, where machines did not reach, remained different for 12 subsequent years whichever practice was used. The difference was the greatest in the first several years after logging. Soil density in the trail recovered at a faster rate than the root mass.http://xn--80abmehbaibgnewcmzjeef0c.xn--p1ai/upload/iblock/86f/86f1e5c8eb03eaca01dde815dc0b7cdf.pdfsoil densityroot masslogging machineryoperation technologypartial cut
spellingShingle A. Yu. Karpechko
Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
Сибирский лесной журнал
soil density
root mass
logging machinery
operation technology
partial cut
title Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
title_full Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
title_fullStr Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
title_full_unstemmed Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
title_short Effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
title_sort effects of different logging practices on soil density and root mass
topic soil density
root mass
logging machinery
operation technology
partial cut
url http://xn--80abmehbaibgnewcmzjeef0c.xn--p1ai/upload/iblock/86f/86f1e5c8eb03eaca01dde815dc0b7cdf.pdf
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