Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2024.2362
Soil Characteristics in Oak Lowland Stand – A Case Study of a 6-Wheeled Forwarder's Impact on Forest Soil
Zoran Bumber
; Croatian Forests Ltd. Forest Administration Zagreb Lazinska 41 10000, Zagreb CROATIA
Andreja Đuka
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Engineering Svetošimunska 23 10000, Zagreb CROATIA
Maja Popović
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Engineering Svetošimunska 23 10000, Zagreb CROATIA
Tomislav Poršinsky
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Engineering Svetošimunska 23 10000, Zagreb CROATIA
Abstract
The behavior of the vehicle-soil interaction and reduction of the possible soil damage to an acceptable level is one of the goals of forest engineering. This study aimed to analyze the impact of a 6-wheeled forwarder on water-physical soil characteristics on lowland soil – pseudogley. The research was conducted using a 17-ton Timberjack 1710B forwarder, which forwarded 694.1 m3 volume of oak (Quercus robur L.) assortments. Soil characteristics were measured after each of the eight passes of the loaded forwarder. Bulk density measured on the surface layer ranged from 1.01–1.23 (Me=1.10) g/cm3 (undisturbed soil); 1.14–1.70 g/cm3 (multiple passes of the loaded forwarder). The highest soil density increase was observed after the first pass of the loaded forwarder (16%). Soil solid phase ranged from 2.49 to 2.73 g/cm3 with no statistically significant difference between undisturbed soil and soil after multiple passes of the vehicle. The highest porosity decrease was observed after the first pass of the loaded forwarder (10%). The highest soil water retention capacity decrease was observed after the first pass of the loaded forwarder (3%). The highest soil air capacity decrease was observed after the first pass of the loaded forwarder (30%) compared to the undisturbed soil of the forest stand.
Keywords
pseudogley (planosol), forwarding timber, vehicle-soil impact
Hrčak ID:
311928
URI
Publication date:
12.1.2024.
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