Effects of biopore infiltration holes and cross drain on soil properties on skidding roads and natural production forest

Abstract

Logging activities in natural production forests tend to have negative impacts on soil quality. This study aims to examine the effect of biopore infiltration holes and cross drains on the chemical and physical properties of the soil both on skid trails and in natural forests. The study was conducted at a natural production forest in West Kalimantan. The results showed that there was no significant change in the chemical properties of the soil in both the skid trails and natural forest, except for the higher organic C parameter in the natural forest. There was an increase in organic C from 1.16% to 2.04% (<3%) on the skid trails before and after one year. In general, there was a change in the physical properties of the soil on the skid trails. In the natural forest, the bulk density is lower than that on the skid trails and tends to increase with soil depth. Porosity in the center of the skid trails decreases by 24% compared to that in the natural forests at a depth of 0-10 cm. The phenomenon of degradation is also apparent in the parameters of available water, soil permeability, and drainage pores in the middle of the skid trails.