Skidders Traffic Assessment on Forest Soil Properties

Abstract

Harvesting of timber using ground based machinery is still a common practice around the world. Track and road building, and movement of machinery during harvesting operations cause soil disturbance. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the change in soil properties after logging operation on skid trails (2 years and 7 years after logging) and compare disturbed soil properties with control sampling (undisturbed soil). For this purpose, soil samples were collected from the skid trail and undisturbed area. Electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon, moisture equivalent, moisture, total porosity and bulk density were determined on the skid trail and undisturbed area. Soil characteristics were examined in two ages (2 years and 7 years skid trail). There were crucial differences in the values of electrical conductivity, organic carbon, moisture, total porosity and bulk density from skid trail and undisturbed area in 2 years skid trail (p 0.05) except bulk density (p=0). It has been concluded that 7 years after logging, all soil properties except bulk density were completely recovered on skid trail. These findings have important implications for assessing the impact of skidders traffic and recovery time in skid trails.