Effects Of Soil Disturbance Research Articles

Combined effects of soil disturbances and tree positions on spatial variability of soil pHCaCl2 under oak and pine stands

This study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting small-scale variability of soil pHCaCl2 under homogeneous pine forest monocultures and seed-regenerated oak stands, with particular emphasis on the effects of soil disturbances (windthrows, soil preparation) and tree positions on spatial variability of soil pHCaCl2. We also attempted to explain the mechanism controlling this small scale spatial variability in terms of soil cation exchange properties. Investigations were conducted in forested areas of Southern Poland. Six 20 × 20 m plots were laid out in homogeneous, mature (40–80 years) pine (three plots) and oak (three plots) stands. Soil samples were collected from the top 10 cm of mineral soil in regular 1 m × 1 m grid, what gives 441 samples per plot. Semivariogram analyses indicated a strong influence of former windthrows (mound-pit soil disturbances) on spatial structure of soil pHCaCl2, particularly in soil under oak stands. Moreover, we found that under oak trees soil pHCaCl2 increased with increasing distance from the tree, confirming the presence of so called near tree pHCaCl2 depression. This suggests that the characteristics of mound material are largely a result of the apparent single-tree influence on soil pHCaCl2. Data from pine stands also confirmed that nearby planted tree pHCaCl2 depression was also present; however, variograms characteristics and maps of pHCaCl2 may be proof for stripped pattern of soil pHCaCl2 remaining after soil preparation. Analysis of the cation exchange properties of the soils revealed that variations in soil pHCaCl2 is related to the saturation of soil with Al (i.e., soil having higher pHCaCl2 has less adsorbed H+ replaced by Al3+), while base cations (Ca2+, K+, Mg2+) had no effect, implying that in trees vicinity soil has lower degree of saturation with Al3+.

Mammalian Soil Disturbance, Plant Cover, and Soil Nitrogen in a Prairie Restoration

Small mammal disturbances in tallgrass prairies are known to influence a variety of ecosystem properties, including plant establishment, plant diversity, and soil nutrient dynamics. We explored direct and indirect effects of mammalian soil disturbance on a newly established grassland restoration site. In 2016–2017, we measured variation in small mammal soil disturbance, plant cover, and total inorganic nitrogen, all within the same plots. Within our site, interior plots had greater disturbance than plots located near site edges. On average, plots with high soil disturbance in 2016 had high disturbance in 2017, and disturbance in the first year was greater than in the second year. Soil disturbance was associated with an overall decline in grass cover and an increase in forb cover (especially Asteraceae). However, there were no associations between soil disturbance and either inorganic nitrogen or plant species richness/diversity on the new restoration site. Our study supports the important link between prairie plant communities and small mammal soil disturbance, potentially creating heterogeneity that is important for tallgrass prairie restoration and conservation.

Efficacy of mulch and tillage options to reduce runoff and soil loss from asparagus interrows

In the UK, conventional asparagus cultivation practices on sloping land, erodible soils and increased frequency of extreme rainfall events combine to promote runoff generation and soil loss, particularly from interrows. This instrumented field study investigated the interactive effect of mulch and shallow soil disturbance (working depth of 0.175 m) on reducing runoff and soil loss. Ten treatments were installed in a commercial asparagus field near Ross-on-Wye (England, UK) during May 1st–July 17th, 2012. Straw and compost were applied to the interrows at high and low application rates (straw = 5 t ha−1 and 3 t ha−1 and compost = 18 t ha−1 and 8 t ha−1, respectively), both with or without shallow soil disturbance (SSD and Non-SSD) as compared with a bare soil, unamended Control. Across five sampling periods, Non-SSD straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1 and 3 t ha−1; Non-SSD compost mulch at 18 t ha−1; and straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1 with SSD all significantly reduced cumulative total soil loss by 53–72% as compared with the Control. Further, mulch treatments with SSD were in general less effective at reducing total soil loss as compared to non-SSD mulch treatments. Compost application was less effective than straw, due to sub-optimal compost blanket depths as dictated by N restrictions for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, in which the study took place. Despite an overall reduction in total soil loss of 72% (associated with Non-SSD straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1), soil erosion rates exceeded 1.4 t ha−1 yr−1, considered to be a tolerable erosion rate in the EU. In addition, measured sediment concentrations in the runoff consistently exceeded the EU water quality guideline value of 25 mg l−1. The results indicate that the efficacy of the treatments tested was not adequate to reduce soil erosion in commercial asparagus fields in the UK to tolerable rates. This may in large part be due to daily foot trafficking events that occur during the asparagus harvesting period (April–June) which disturbs and degrades the treatments applied reduing their efficacy. This study demonstrates that additional research is required in order to identify effective erosion control measures to ensure the sustainability of commercial asparagus production systems in the UK.

Soil disturbance under small harvester traffic in paddy‐based smallholder farms in China

AbstractMachine‐induced soil disturbance may negatively impact the sustainability of a smallholder farming system. On‐farm studies at 143 fields were conducted over three crop seasons with the goal of quantifying the effect of soil disturbance on rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy productivity induced by small harvesters (i.e., power <75 kW, weight < 3.5 Mg, and working width <2200 mm). A field survey toolbox containing fine‐layered cone penetration test, soil micro‐relief measurement, soil physics test (water content, bulk density, and porosity), documentation of field attributes, harvesters’ technical specifications, cropping systems, and farmers’ practices was used for field observation. Results showed that harvester traffic increased soil bulk density and decreased soil porosity. However, harvester‐induced soil changes in statistics were not detected. In addition, trafficked lanes had great soil strength (P = .05) than non‐trafficked lanes, and equipment induced compaction was limited to the surface 150 mm. Therefore, small harvesters minimized subsurface soil damage. However, regardless of the model and specification, all harvesters caused ruts. Small field sizes, irregular field shapes, inconsistent field management practices, lacking soil protection awareness, excessive soil water content during rice harvesting and random field traffic were identified as major factors aggravating soil disturbance. Above these, several well‐established approaches to alleviate machine‐induced soil damage were also observed during the field survey, including pre‐harvesting drainage, floating chassis, ultra‐narrow wheels, and puddling.

Increased reproduction under disturbance is responsible for high population growth rate of invasive Centaurea stoebe

To further our understanding of biological invasions, it is important to evaluate hypothesized causal factors facilitating invasions using manipulative field experiments. Disturbance and density are frequently invoked as major factors operating during the process of plant invasions. Soil disturbance by mowing can increase nutrient and light availability while intraspecific competition can reduce potential invader success. Disturbance can therefore reduce the negative effects of density, however the interaction between these effects on invaders have rarely been tested. We studied the combined effect of intraspecific density and soil disturbance on the population dynamics of Centaurea stoebe, an invader in North America. We used an experimental field study of spotted knapweed established in Stony Brook, NY, to parameterize matrix models for four combined disturbance and density treatments. We conducted elasticity analysis to investigate the potential influence of demographic variables on population growth rate. We also used retrospective analysis to identify the actual influence of these variables on the population growth rate of plants in our experimental study. We found higher differences in λ between disturbance treatments compared to between density treatments. LTRE analysis showed that the increased λ of spotted knapweed in response to disturbance was due to substantial increases in survival of vegetative plants and reproduction. Prospective elasticity analysis revealed that λ was most sensitive to small changes in the transition of vegetative plants to reproductive plants, and the production of vegetative plants from reproductive plants. Our results show that the increased growth rate response of spotted knapweed populations to disturbance occurs irrespective of density, and emphasizes the importance of reducing reproduction in the management of spotted knapweed.

Earthworm assemblages in urban habitats across biogeographical regions

In urban landscapes, humans are the most significant factor determining belowground diversity, including earthworms. Within the framework of the Global Urban Soil Ecology and Education Network (GLUSEEN), a multi-city comparison was carried out to assess the effects of soil disturbance on earthworms. In each of five cities (Baltimore, USA; Budapest, Hungary; Helsinki and Lahti, Finland; Potchefstroom, South Africa), covering four climatic and biogeographical regions, four habitat types (ruderal, turf/lawn, remnant and reference) were sampled. The survey resulted in 19 species belonging to 9 genera and 4 families. The highest total species richness was recorded in Baltimore (16), while Budapest and the Finnish cities had relatively low (5–6) species numbers. Remnant forests and lawns supported the highest earthworm biomass. Soil properties (i.e. pH and organic matter content) explained neither earthworm community composition nor abundance. Evaluating all cities together, earthworm communities were significantly structured by habitat type. Communities in the two adjacent cities, Helsinki and Lahti were very similar, but Budapest clearly separated from the Finnish cities. Earthworm community structure in Baltimore overlapped with that of the other cities. Despite differences in climate, soils and biogeography among the cities, earthworm communities were highly similar within the urban habitat types. This indicates that human-mediated dispersal is an important factor shaping the urban fauna, both at local and regional scales.

Soil scarification favors natural regeneration of Pinus pinea in Lebanon forests: Evidences from field and laboratory experiments

Pinus pinea is an important species for ecological and economic reasons in the Mediterranean area and especially in Lebanon. However, conditions of its natural regeneration have received little attention. Our study aimed to test the influence of soil disturbances, predation and autotoxicity on pine regeneration. A seed sowing field experiment was conducted in a mature stand in which two types of soil disturbances were tested (soil scarification and litter burning) in presence or absence of predation. In addition, a laboratory experiment evaluating the influence of litter (present, absent or burned) and green needle leachates (i.e. in order to mimic potential autotoxicity) on seed germination and seedling growth was conducted. Results showed a strong effect of soil disturbance, in particular soil scarification which promoted seedling emergence and early survival, whereas the role of predation was low. Forty to sixty days after seed installation, seedling density peaked at 14.9 ± 0.4 seedling.m in the scarification treatment, 13.1 ± 0.4 in the burning treatment and 8.4 ± 0.4 in the control treatment. However, an unexpected high mortality rate was recorded at the end of the field experiment in all treatments, as after seven months seedling density dropped to 0.2 ± 0.02. In the laboratory experiment, we emphasized an autotoxic effect of green needle aqueous extract on seed germination and seedling growth in the presence of litter. This allelopathic effect could be potentially linked to the presence of quinic acid which was measured as the major metabolite detected in needle aqueous extracts. In conclusion, we recommend soil preparation treatments to favor seedling emergence in combination with thinning to achieve seedling development on the long term.

Effect of soil structure disturbance on the shear strength of black volcanic ash soil

The effect of soil disturbance on the shear strength of black volcanic ash soil was investigated using a constant volume direct shear apparatus. Disturbance of soil structure was considered as the pore size distribution which obtained from the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC). The disturbed sample was used as a representation of soil structure disturbance due to earthquake shakes. A series of cyclic tests were conducted under unsaturated and saturated samples. It was found that the undisturbed samples exhibit a unimodal pore structure, and the disturbed samples indicate to a bimodal pore structure. Since the pore structure of the disturbed sample is unstable, the degradation index value is higher than that of the undisturbed sample and increases with the increasing number of cycles. In other words, the cyclic normalized vertical stress of disturbed samples degrades faster. Furthermore, the degradation index value in the normallyconsolidated samples was found to be larger than the overconsolidated. It might be attributed to increasing of the pore water pressure during shearing. Where in the over-consolidated samples is lower than normally-consolidated. On the other hand, the normalized shear stress of unsaturated samples, it is slightly larger due to the suction forces in the total strength of soils.

The interactive effects of soil disturbance and residue quality on soil nitrogen mineralisation in a tropical sandy soil

Soil conservation practices, such as reduced and no tillage, have been found to enhance soil nitrogen (N) sequestration through decreasing the rate of N mineralisation of added organic materials. Nitrogen mineralisation is not only affected by tillage, but also by the quality (chemical composition) of the organic residues. This study evaluated the interaction of residue quality and soil disturbance on N mineralisation in a sandy soil. A 112-day incubation experiment was conducted with two levels of soil disturbance (undisturbed and disturbed conditions) and five plant residue amendments of contrasting quality. The contrasting quality (N, lignin (L), and polyphenols (Pp)) (in g kg–1) amendments follow: (i) unamended; (ii) Sesbania grandiflora (N 44, L 173, Pp 9.2); (iii) Indigofera hirsuta (N 41, L 177, Pp 30); (iv) Dipterocarpus tuberculatus (N 8.2, L 203, Pp 71); and (v) Eucalyptus camaldulensis (N 9.7, L 126, Pp 110). Residues (ii) and (iii) were fresh legume leaves, while (iv) and (v) were non-legume leaf litter. Disturbance only significantly increased N mineralisation rates in the legume-residue treated soils (increases of 18.8% for S. grandiflora and 27.1% for I. hirsuta) during the early stage of decomposition (first 14 days). In the legume treatment, disturbance significantly increased the ammonification, but decreased nitrification in soil relative to undisturbed soils. The difference in patterns of ammonification and nitrification was more pronounced in the early than in the later period of decomposition. This indicated an inhibitory effect of soil disturbance on nitrification, which was particularly pronounced in the legume-treated soils. The Pp content of residues was the major quality parameter regulating the soil ammonium-N and nitrate-N concentrations. Minimum soil disturbance should be adopted under legume soil organic amendment so that both ammonification and nitrification components of N mineralisation process can occur normally, and nitrate-loving crops can take up N in the form of nitrate-N which will enhance their yields. Moreover, undisturbed conditions under legume organic amendments reduced N mineralisation, resulting in enhancing soil N sequestration.

The Combined Role of Retention Pattern and Post-Harvest Site Preparation in Regulating Plant Functional Diversity: A Case Study in Boreal Forest Ecosystems

Changes in the light availability in forests generated by diversified retention patterns (e.g., clear cut, partial harvest) have been shown to strongly filter the plant species present. Modified soil microsite conditions due to post-harvest site preparation (e.g., mechanical site preparation, prescribed fire) might also be an important determinant of plant diversity. The objective here was to detect how retention pattern and post-harvest site preparation act as filters that explain the understory functional diversity in boreal forests. We also assessed whether these effects were dependent on forest attributes (stand type, time since fire, and time since harvest). We retrieved data from seven different studies within 101 sites in boreal forests in Eastern Canada. Our data included forests harvested with two retention patterns: careful logging and clear cut, plus unharvested control forests. Three post-harvest site preparation techniques were applied: plow or disk trenching after careful logging, and prescribed fire after clear cut. We collected trait data (10 traits) representing plant morphology, regeneration strategy, or resource utilization for common species. Our results demonstrated significant variation in functional diversity after harvest. The combined effect of retention pattern and site preparation was the most important factor explaining understory diversity compared to retention pattern only and forest attributes. According to RLQ analysis, harvested forests with site preparation favored traits reflecting resistance or resilience ability after disturbance (clonal guerilla species, geophytes, and species with higher seed weight). Yet harvested forests without site preparation mainly affected understory plant species via their light requirements. Forest attributes did not play significant roles in affecting the relationship between site preparation and functional diversity or traits. Our results indicated the importance of the compounding effects of light variation and soil disturbance in filtering understory diversity and composition in boreal forests. Whether these results are also valid for other ecosystems still needs to be demonstrated.

Seed predation intensity and stability in agro-ecosystems: Role of predator diversity and soil disturbance

Seed predation by arthropods can contribute in regulating population and community dynamics of weeds. While the role of insects, and especially ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as seed predators in crop fields is well studied, the drivers of predation stability and the relationships between species diversity and predation are less understood. The aims of the study were: 1) to unveil the direct relationships between predator community diversity and seed predation intensity and stability, and 2) to test the effects of soil disturbance (conventional vs. conservation tillage) and distance from field margin on seed predator communities and predation. Seed predation was measured using seed cards, and predator communities were sampled using pitfall traps over two years. Granivorous ground beetles, ants and crickets were the most abundant seed predators in both conventional and conservation tillage fields. Abundant and diverse predator communities were beneficial to predation intensity and stability. However, in communities dominated by large predators, an increase in number of species was related to a partial suppression of seed predation. Soil disturbance per se did not influence the overall predator community composition and predation, but it modified their spatial patterns within the fields. At the margins of conventional tillage fields, predation was lower and patchier than at the margins of conservation tillage fields. However, predation increased more steeply towards the center of conventional tillage field. Our results could find applications in sustainable weed management through biological control, as well as in better understanding the role of functional diversity in regulating ecosystem services.

What is the Connection between Soil Carbon Dioxide Emission, Global Warming and Food Security?

In the heart of the western civilization, mainly in the European Union, we are more interested in the quality of the food than in its quantity. Due to our ever-changing world we have to pay more attention to the future of the latter, namely to food security. As food security depends on global warming as well, one of its triggering actors was selected for analysis, the emission of carbon dioxide from the soil. The experiments were set up in the Látókép experimental site, which is situated in the eastern part of Hungary. I have examined the effect of less soil disturbance regarding the CO2 emission, in the case of winter ploughing, strip tillage and subsoiling methods. Measurements were performed with five differently placed and unique cylinders and with the help of the TESTO 535 measuring device. The results confirmed the hypothesis: less emission can help in the fight against global warming, thus it has a direct link to and impact on food security. Keywords: food security, global warming, CO2 emission, tillage methods

Effect of soil disturbance by agricultural activities on the life history traits of monkey frog (Pithecopus azureus)

We assessed whether soil disturbance by agricultural activity influences the growth, development, and survival of individuals in the larval, metamorphic, and postmetamorphic stages of amphibians. Tadpoles of Pithecopus azureus (Cope, 1862) were reared in microcosms assembled with soil from two sites, a pristine site and a rice field. For 5 weeks, we recorded tadpole growth and development as well as physicochemical variable of the water: temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The results show that rice field soil produced a level of acidification in the water that influenced the growth and development rates of tadpoles. Tadpoles reared in rice soil had a significantly lower growth rate and body length, and during a specified period, the development rate of the tadpole was significantly lower than that of tadpoles in pristine soil. Overall, tadpoles in rice soil took 3 days longer to reach metamorphosis and 1 additional day to complete metamorphosis compared with tadpoles exposed to pristine soil. Our study shows that disturbed soils modify the physicochemical conditions of temporary ponds, impacting on the initial life stage of the anurans.

Soil Disturbance Effects from Tethered Forwarding on Steep Slopes in Brazilian Eucalyptus Plantations

Traditional timber harvests on steep slopes have been conducted through labor-intensive and sometimes environmentally impactful methods, such as manual felling with chainsaws and extraction using bladed skid trails, winching, or cable yarding. Ground-based mechanized harvesting and primary transportation methods such as cut-to-length harvesters and forwarders have emerged in some parts of the world as low-impact, safe, and efficient alternatives to the aforementioned systems. However, when mechanized operations are used on steep terrain, problems such as poor stability, loss of traction, and increased soil disturbance can occur. Tethered or winch-assisted logging practices are being tested and applied in several countries to adapt to challenges associated with operating equipment on steep slopes while minimizing environmental impact. To better understand the feasibility of these systems, we conducted a designed experiment to quantify changes in soil properties and predicted erosion resulting from varying numbers of passes and payload levels by a forwarder operating on slopes ranging from 27 to 38 degrees. The machine was equipped with two different track configurations, tethered by either a machine-mounted or self-contained winch, in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. On low slopes, bulk density significantly increased, but it did not increase on steeper slopes; this demonstrates traction winches’ effectiveness at reducing concentrated ground pressures. Rut depths were minimal and decreased with increasing slope classes due to reduced track slippage. Predicted erosion rates were high, primarily due to the extremely steep, long slopes and lack of adequate cover in some portions of the trail, illustrating the importance of proper erosion management practices on steep slopes.

Response of open-end pipe piles to vertical dynamic load considering the effects of soil plug and soil disturbance during driving

This paper presents an analytical solution for the vertical dynamic response of an open-ended pipe pile considering the radial inhomogeneity caused by soil disturbance. The governing equation of the surrounding soil is deduced on the basis of incremental deformations superimposed on an initial finite deformation, i.e. the soil disturbance. The effect of the radial expansion pressure of the soil plug after pile driving is investigated for the first time. By treating the soil plug as the additional mass attached to the pile shaft using the Voigt model, the densification of the soil plug is also considered. A parametric study is performed to illustrate the influence of the expansion pressure of both inner and outer sides of the pile wall and the soil plug on the vertical dynamic response of the pipe pile. The results indicate that the expansion pressure enhances the fluctuation of velocity admittance curves and the peak amplitudes of the reflected signal at both the pile toe and the soil plug top. Wall thickness of the pile influences the dynamic effects of expansion pressure and soil plug on the pile.

Soil surface disturbance alters cyanobacterial biocrusts and soil properties in dry grassland and shrubland ecosystems

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) dominate soil surfaces in drylands, providing services that include soil stabilization and carbon uptake. In this study, we investigated the direct and biocrust-mediated effects of anthropogenic disturbances in two dryland ecosystems. We applied low intensity soil surface disturbance (twice-yearly footfalls) in grassland and shrubland ecosystems in northern Chihuahuan Desert, USA. After five years of disturbance, biocrust photosynthetic capacity (chlorophyll a) declined by 44%. Declines were largest in interspaces between grassland plants. Levels of scytonemin, a biocrust sunscreen pigment, were 38% greater in shrubland than grassland and 44% greater under grass canopy than in interspaces, but decreased only 5% with disturbance. Disturbance reduced soil surface stability 2 times more in the grassland than shrubland. Disturbance effects on other hydrologic and physical properties were indirectly mediated by the photosynthetic capacity of biocrusts. Disturbance indirectly increased infiltration depth and shallow (2–3 cm) soil moisture in the grassland but reduced surface moisture (<1 cm) in the shrubland. Biocrusts were more sensitive to low intensity soil disturbance in a grassland than shrubland ecosystem. While biocrusts mediated the effects of soil disturbance on dryland soil hydrological and physical properties, the nature of their influence differed between ecosystem types.

The Effects of Tillage-Induced Soil Disturbance on Soil Quality

The Effects of Tillage-Induced Soil Disturbance on Soil Quality

Global meta‐analysis of soil‐disturbing vertebrates reveals strong effects on ecosystem patterns and processes

AbstractAimOrganisms that disturb the soil while foraging or creating shelter (ecosystem engineers) can have profound effects on ecosystems. Soil ejecta from these disturbances can enhance surface nutrients and the resulting depressions accrue organic matter and develop into biological hotspots. Here, we describe a global meta‐analysis of studies that assessed the impacts of vertebrate soil disturbance on both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.LocationGlobal land surface.Time period1941–2016.Major taxa studiedVertebrates.MethodsAfter conducting a systematic literature search, we quantitatively synthesized the findings of 149 published studies that compared disturbed and undisturbed surfaces. Our meta‐analysis included 64 engineer species, primarily comprised of rodents and a subset of other mammals.ResultsWe found that vertebrate soil disturbance significantly enhanced soil nitrogen (by 77%) and phosphorus (35%), and the productivity (32%) and recruitment (32%) of vascular plants. Disturbances had a greater cover of bare soil (126%) than undisturbed controls, and higher abundances of secondary vertebrates (1,233%), that use pre‐constructed burrows as shelter and foraging grounds. Soil disturbance significantly reduced water run‐off (63%) and the abundance of biocrusts (82%). Soil disturbance effects generally intensified with increasing aridity, and the magnitude of soil disturbance effects was not moderated by the area of the disturbance. Disturbances older than 12 months were more distinct from the surrounding matrix than fresh disturbances. The phylogeny of engineers was unrelated to their ecosystem effects, indicating that the same functionality could readily evolve in different taxa.Main conclusionsIn general, disturbances become localized patches of elevated functioning, providing strong evidence that vertebrate engineers, especially those in drylands, are an important source of environmental heterogeneity.

Radial consolidation of PVD-Installed normally consolidated soil with discharge capacity reduction using large-strain theory

The radial consolidation rate of prefabricated vertical drain (PVD)-installed soft deposits is known to be closely related to the PVD discharge capacity, which usually decreases during consolidation. Conventional solutions for radial consolidation of PVD-installed deposits have been developed to consider discharge capacity reduction using small-strain theory, in which the volume compressibility coefficient and soil permeability were assumed to be constant. This paper formulates a general expression for discharge capacity reduction with time in numerical analysis based on large-strain theory. Soil disturbance effects caused by PVD installation, such as a nonlinear distribution for radial hydraulic conductivity, are captured in the proposed solution. The proposed solution was applied to field data from a test embankment at Saga Airport. The proposed solution provides a good result which is close to the measured data.

Effects of tunneling-induced soil disturbance on the post-construction settlement in structured soft soils

Earth pressure balanced shield machine (EPBS) is widely adopted for metro tunnel construction in urban areas. Support pressure on excavation face and grouting at the EPBS tail are the main measures to control the ground disturbance and settlement. The post-construction settlement is of significance to the serviceability of metro tunnel. By weakening the compression parameters of underlying soils related to soil disturbance degree (SDD) and using layer-wise summation method, this study developed a method to predict the post-construction ground and tunnel settlement. The SDD is quantitatively evaluated by the shear-strain state obtained from a series of isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial compression (CIU) tests. Based on a case history of metro tunnel constructed in structured soft soils, a suite of three dimensional finite-element analyses are performed to investigate soil disturbance during tunneling construction. The numerical simulation and the applicability of the proposed method are validated by comparing the numerical results with the field measurements. In addition, influences of support pressure and grout ratio on the tunneling-induced soil disturbance, ground and tunnel settlement are revealed. The SDD shows remarkable falloff within 0.32D above the tunnel crown, while 0.24D below the tunnel invert. Furthermore, within the above distance range, the linear relation between the SDD and distance from the tunnel crown or invert can be built. The analysis results show that the excessively high or low support pressure and grout ratio can both cause severe SDD which results in the significant post-construction settlement. Grout ratio of about 200% and support pressure of 2.2–2.4P0 are effective for reducing both the post-construction ground and tunnel settlement. The research presented in this paper provides a reference for controlling the post-construction ground and tunnel settlement constructed in structured soft soils.