The use of wheel skidders for timber extraction from tree stump to roadside landing has become more and more widespread. Although the use of wheel skidders has the advantages of high production and reduced extraction costs, it also damages the soil and impedes forest regeneration. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of machine traffic using the Timberjack 450C (two, six and 15 passes) on two slope classes (SC) of skid trails. A low slope is considered to be <20% and a high slope is at >20%. The effects on soil physicochemical properties and seedling growth (alder, Alnus subcordata C.A. Mey. and maple, Acer velutinum Boiss.) in natural mixed beech stands in the Hyrcanian forests in Northern Iran were observed and studied. The results showed that the different factors of traffic intensity (TI) and SC had a significant impact on soil physicochemical properties and subsequent seedling growth. After two machine passes in a low TI on both low and high slopes, soil bulk density (BD) increased by 49.3% and 59.2% and penetration resistance increased by 30.5% and 38.5%, while total porosity decreased by 19.5% and 23.5%. The forest floor decreased by 30.9% and 42%, organic carbon decreased by 25.6% and 39.4%, nitrogen decreased by 18.5% and 26.3%, phosphorus decreased by 14.1% and 23%, and potassium decreased by 10.7% and 24.2%, respectively as compared with the control area. Our results indicated additional BD increments after two, six and 15 machine passes of 49.3%, 17.9% and 8.3% in the low slope, respectively, and 59.2%, 16.5% and 7.1% in the high slope, respectively. The mean of the germination rate (GR) of alder and maple seedlings in the control area was 58.3% and 46.1%, respectively, while after two, six and 15 passes, the GR of alder seedlings reduced to 50%, 46.4% and 37.5%, respectively, while that of maple seedlings reduced to 36.1%, 28.6% and 25.6%, respectively. Additionally, after two machine passes, stem length, main root length, and total dry biomass decreased by 28.7%, 34.9% and 34% in alder seedlings, respectively, and 27.9%, 27.6% and 33.3% in maple seedlings, respectively. Comparison of the response of the two seedling species to soil compaction showed that although alder had a higher GR than maple, the root growth of maple was higher than that of alder.
Keywords
, , ,
Citation
Naghdi R, Tavankar F, Solgi A, Nikooy M, Marchi E, Picchio R (2023). Effects on soil physicochemical properties and seedling growth in mixed high forests caused by cable skidder traffic. iForest 16: 127-135. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4103-016
Academic Editor
Manuela Romagnoli
Paper history
Received: Mar 22, 2022
Accepted: Feb 14, 2023
First online: Apr 23, 2023
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2023
Publication Time: 2.27 months
© SISEF - The Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology 2023
Open Access
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Breakdown by View Type
(Waiting for server response...)
Article Usage
Total Article Views: 10581
(from publication date up to now)
Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 9089
Abstract Page Views: 674
PDF Downloads: 725
Citation/Reference Downloads: 1
XML Downloads: 92
Web Metrics
Days since publication: 362
Overall contacts: 10581
Avg. contacts per week: 204.60
Article Citations
Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Feb 2023)
(No citations were found up to date. Please come back later)
Publication Metrics
by Dimensions ©
Articles citing this article
List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.
(1)
Ampoorter E, Van Nevel L, De Vos B, Hermy M, Verheyen K (2010)Assessing the effects of initial soil characteristics, machine mass and traffic intensity on forest soil compaction. Forest Ecology and Management 260: 1664-1676.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(2)
Ampoorter E, Schrijver A, Nevel L, Hermy M, Verheyen K (2012)Impact of mechanized harvesting on compaction of sandy and clayey forest soils: results of a meta-analysis. Annals of Forest Sciences 69: 533-542.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(3)
Bassett IE, Simcock RC, Mitchell ND (2005)Consequences of soil compaction for seedling establishment: implications for natural regeneration and restoration. Austral Ecology 30: 827-833.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(4)
Binkley D, Fisher R (2013)Ecology and management of forest soils. Wiley-Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, pp. 440.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(5)
Blouin VM, Schmidt MG, Bulmer CE, Krzic M (2008)Effects of compaction and water content on lodgepole pine seedling growth. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 2444-2452.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(6)
Botta G, Pozzolo O, Bomben M, Rosatto H, Rivero D, Ressia M, Tourn M, Soza E, Vazquez J (2007)Traffic alternatives in harvest of soybean (
Glycine max L.): effect on yields and soil under direct sowing system. Soil and Tillage Research 96: 145-154.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(7)
Cambi M, Hoshika Y, Mariotti B, Paoletti E, Picchio R, Venanzi R, Marchi E (2017)Compaction by a forest machine affects soil quality and
Quercus robur L. seedling performance in an experimental field. Forest Ecology and Management 384: 406-414.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(8)
DeArmond D, Emmert F, Lima AJN, Higuchi N (2019)Impacts of soil compaction persist 30 years after logging operations in the Amazon Basin. Soil Tillage Research 189: 207-216.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(9)
Dedecek RA, Gava JL (2005)Influence of soil compaction on eucalyptus coppice productivity. Revista Árvore 29 (3): 383-390.
Online |
Gscholar
(10)
De Gouvenain RC (1996)Indirect impacts of soil trampling on tree growth and plant succession in the north cascade mountains of washington. Biological Conservation 75 (3): 279-287.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(11)
Demir M, Makineci E, Yilmaz E (2007)Investigation of timber harvesting impacts on herbaceous cover, forest floor and surface soil properties on skid road in an oak (
Quercus petrea L.) stand. Building and Environment 42: 1194-1199.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(12)
Dickson A, Leaf AL, Hosner JF (1960)Quality appraisal of white spruce and white pine seedling stock in nurseries. Forestry Chronicle 36: 10-13.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(13)
Dyck WJ, Cole DW (1994)Strategies for determining consequences of harvesting and associated practices on long-term productivity. In: “Impacts of Forest Harvesting on Long-term Site Productivity” (Dyck WJ, Cole DW, Comerford NB eds). Chapman and Hall, London, UK, pp. 13-40.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(14)
Ebeling C, Lang F, Gaertig T (2016)Structural recovery in three selected forest soils after compaction by forest machines in Lower Saxony, Germany. Forest Ecology and Management 359: 74-82.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(15)
Eliasson L, Wästerlund L (2007)Effects of slash reinforcement of strip roads on rutting and soil compaction on a moist fine-grained soil. Forest Ecology and Management 252 (1): 118-123.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(16)
Ezzati S, Najafi A, Rab A, Zenner EK (2012)Recovery of soil bulk density, porosity and rutting from ground skidding over a 20-year period after timber harvesting in Iran. Silva Fennica 46 (4): 521-538.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(17)
Froehlich HA, Miles DWR, Robbins RW (1985)Soil bulk density recovery on compacted skid trails in central Idaho. Soil Science Society of America Journal 49 (4): 1015-1017.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(18)
Gaertig T, Schack-Kirchner H, Hildebrand EE, Von Wilpert K (2002)The impact of soil aeration on oak decline in southwestern Germany. Forest Ecology and Management 159: 15-25.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(19)
Gomez A, Powers RF, Singer MJ, Horwath WR (2002)Soil compaction effects on growth of young Ponderosa pine following litter removal in California’s Sierra Nevada. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66: 1334-1343.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(20)
Greacen EL, Sands R (1980)Compaction of forest soils. A review. Australian Journal Soil Research 18: 163-189.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(21)
Hansson L, Ring E, Franko M, Gärdenäs A (2018)Soil temperature and water content dynamics after disc trenching a sub-xeric Scots pine clearcut in central Sweden. Geoderma 327: 85-96.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(22)
Hoffmann S, Schönauer M, Heppelmann J, Asikainen A, Cacot E, Eberhard B, Hasenauer H, Ivanovs J, Jaeger D, Lazdins A, Mohtashami S, Moskalik T (2022)Trafficability prediction using depth-to-water maps: the status of application in Northern and Central European forestry. Current Forestry Reports 8 (1): 55-71.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(23)
Horn R, Vossbrink J, Peth S, Becker S (2007)Impact of modern forest vehicles on soil physical properties. Forest Ecology and Management 248: 56-63.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(24)
Jakobsen BF, Greacen EL (1985)Compaction of sandy forest soils by forwarder operations. Soil and Tillage Research 5: 55-70.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(25)
Jamshidi R, Jaeger D, Dragovich D (2018)Establishment of pioneer seedling species on compacted skid tracks in a temperate Hyrcanian forest, northern Iran. Environmental Earth Sciences 77 (3): 1143.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(26)
Jourgholami M, Khoramizadeh A, Zenner EK (2016)Effects of soil compaction on seedling morphology, growth, and architecture of chestnut-leaved oak (
Quercus castaneifolia). iForest 10: 145-153.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(27)
Jourgholami M (2018)Effects of soil compaction on growth variables in Cappadocian maple (
Acer cappadocicum) seedlings. Journal Forest Research 29 (3): 601-610.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(28)
Jourgholami M, Labelle ER, Feghhi J (2019)Efficacy of leaf litter mulch to mitigate runoff and sediment yield following mechanized operations in the Hyrcanian mixed forests. Journal Soils Sediments 19: 2076-2088.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(29)
Kalra YP, Maynard DG (1991)Methods manual for forest soil and plant analysis. Information Report NOR-X-319, Forestry Canada, Northwest region, Northern Forestry Center, Edmonton, Canada, pp. 125.
Online |
Gscholar
(30)
Klvač R, Holčikova P, Dundek P, Kleibl M, Markes V (2010)Side effect of strip road compaction. In: “Developments in Precision Forestry since 2006” (Ackerman PA, Ham H, Lu Ceds). Proceedings of the “International Precision Forestry Symposium”. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (South Africa), 1-3 Mar 2010, pp. 47-48.
Gscholar
(31)
Kozlowski TT (1999)Soil compaction and growth of woody plants. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 14: 596-619.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(32)
Khumbongmayum AD, Khan ML, Tripathi RS (2005)Survival and growth of seedlings of a few tree species in the four sacred groves of manipur, northeast india. Current Science 88 (11): 1781-1788.
Online |
Gscholar
(33)
Labelle ER, Hansson L, Högbom L, Jourgholami M, Laschi A (2022)Strategies to mitigate the effects of soil physical disturbances caused by forest machinery: a comprehensive review. Current Forestry Reports 8 (1): 20-37.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(34)
Labelle ER, Kammermeier M (2019)Above- and belowground growth response of Picea abies seedlings exposed to varying levels of soil relative bulk density. European Journal of Forest Research 138 (4): 705-722.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(35)
Labelle ER, Jeager D (2011)Soil compaction caused by cut-to-length forest operations and possible short-term natural rehabilitation of soil density. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75: 2314-2329.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(36)
Lacey ST, Ryan PJ (2000)Cumulative management impacts on soil physical properties and early growth of
Pinus radiata. Forest Ecology of Management 138: 321-333.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(37)
Marchi E, Picchio R, Spinelli S, Verani S, Venanzi R, Certini G (2014)Environmental impact assessment of different logging methods in pine forests thinning. Ecological Engineering 70: 429-436.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(38)
Matangaran UR, Kobayashi H (1999)The effect of tractor logging on forest soil compaction and growth of
Shorea selanica seedlings in Indonesia. Journal of Forest Research 4 (1): 13-15.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(39)
McDonald TP, Seixas F (1997)Effect of slash on forwarder soil compaction. Journal of Forest Engineering 8: 15-26.
Online |
Gscholar
(40)
Meyer C, Lüscher P, Schulin R (2014)Recovery of forest soil from compaction in skid tracks planted with black alder (
Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). Soil and Tillage Research 143: 7-16.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(41)
Misra RK, Gibbons AK (1996)Growth and morphology of eucalypt seedling roots in relation to soil strength arising from compaction. Plant and Soil 182: 1-11.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(42)
Mohieddinne H, Brasseur B, Spicher F, Gallet-Moron E, Buridant J, Kobaissi A, Horen H (2019)Physical recovery of forest soil after compaction by heavy machines, revealed by penetration resistance over multiple decades. Forest Ecology and Management 449: 1-10.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(43)
Naghdi R, Solgi A (2014)Effects of skidder passes and slope on soil disturbance in two soil water contents. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering 35 (1): 73-80.
Online |
Gscholar
(44)
Naghdi R, Solgi A, Labelle ER, Zenner EK (2016)Influence of ground-based skidding on physical and chemical properties of forest soils and their effects on maple seedling growth. European Journal of Forest Research 135 (5): 949-962.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(45)
Picchio R, Tavankar F, Nikooy M, Pignatti G, Venanzi R, Lo Monaco A (2019a)Morphology, growth and architecture response of beech (
Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and maple tree (
Acer velutinum Boiss.) seedlings to soil compaction stress caused by mechanized logging operations. Forests 10: 771.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(46)
Picchio R, Venanzi R, Tavankar F, Luchenti I, Iranparast Bodaghi A, Latterini F, Nikooy M, Di Marzio N, Naghdi R (2019b)Changes in soil parameters of forests after windstorms and timber extraction. European Journal of Forest Research 138 (5): 875-888.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(47)
Picchio R, Mederski PS, Tavankar F (2020)How and how much, do harvesting activities affect forest soil, regeneration and stands? Current Forestry Report 6: 115-128.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(48)
Self A, Ezell AW, Rowe D, Schultz EB, Hodges JD (2012)Effects of mechanical site preparation on growth of oaks planted on former agricultural fields. Forests 3 (1): 22-32.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(49)
Sinnett D, Morgan G, Williams M, Hutchings TR (2008)Soil penetration resistance and tree root development. Soil use and Management 24 (3): 273-280.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(50)
Sohrabi H, Jourgholami M, Jafari M, Shabanian N, Venanzi R, Tavankar F, Picchio R (2020)Soil recovery assessment after timber harvesting based on the Sustainable Forest Operation (SFO) perspective in Iranian temperate forests. Sustainability 12: 2874.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(51)
Solgi A, Naghdi R, Tsioras PA, Nikooy M (2015)Soil compaction and porosity changes caused during the operation of Timberjack 450C skidder in Northern Iran. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering 36 (2): 77-85.
Online |
Gscholar
(52)
Tan X, Chang SX, Kabzems R (2005)Effects of soil compaction and forest floor removal on soil microbial properties and N transformations in a boreal forest long-term soil productivity study. Forest Ecology and Management 217 (2-3): 158-170.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(53)
Tavankar F, Picchio R, Nikooy M, Jourgholami M, Naghdi R, Latterini F, Venanzi R (2021)Soil natural recovery process and
Fagus orientalis Lipsky seedling growth after timber extraction by wheeled skidder. Land 10 (2): 113.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(54)
Von Wilpert K, Schäffer J (2006)Ecological effects of soil compaction and initial recovery dynamics: a preliminary study. European Journal of Forest Research 125 (2): 129-138.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
(55)
Williamson JR, Neilsen WA (2000)The influence of forest site on rate and extent of soil compaction and profile disturbance of skid trails during ground-based harvesting. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30: 1196-1205.
CrossRef |
Gscholar
