The effects of mechanised forest harvesting on soil physical properties

Abstract

Throughout 1998 and 1999, fields trials were undertaken at upland mechanised forest harvesting sites in north-east England and south-west Scotland to (a); investigate the degree and nature of disturbance on selected forest soils and (b), examine the efficacy of ground protection measures. Soil density and soil strength (soil resistance to penetration) measured directly beneath the machine wheel tracks on gleyed mineral and deep peat soils (considered previously to be at risk of severe disturbance) exhibited only minor changes despite high levels of trafficking. This was ascribed to (a); the mechanical processes under loading particular to saturated fine textured mineral and fibrous soils and (b), the effectiveness of brash mats in reducing the loads applied to the ground surface whilst maintaining soil structure during repeated trafficking. A marked reduction in the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the mineral soils directly beneath the machine wheel tracks was measured, with implications for the hydrological regime of the organic soil layers (considered to represent the effective tree rooting zone). The lateral distribution of soil impacts, (post-treatment soil resistance to penetration), measured both between and adjacent to the machine wheel tracks, suggested that as much s 50% of the site area (based on the total area of brashed extraction routes) may be subject to some degree of soil disturbance. The implications for site productivity of all measured changes in soil structural properties were discussed in relation to previously reported soil thresholds known to limit root and tree growth. In recognition of the increasing mechanisation of forest harvesting operations, quantitative guidelines were developed for use at an operational level.

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