Soil moisture content as a predictor of soil disturbance caused by wheeled forest harvesting machines on soils of the Western Carpathians

Abstract

Limiting surface soil disturbance caused by forest harvesting machines is an important task and is influenced by the selection of efficient and reliable predictors of such disturbance. Our objective was to determine whether soil moisture content affects soil load bearing capacity and the formation of ruts. Measurements were conducted in six forest stands where various machines operated. We measured the formation of ruts along skid trails in connection with varying soil moisture content. Soil moisture content was determined through the gravimetric sampling method. Our results showed that severe (rut depth 16–25 cm) to very severe disturbance (rut depth >26 cm) occurred in forest stands where the instantaneous soil moisture exceeded its plasticity limits defined through Atterberg limits. Atterberg limits of soil plasticity ranged from 26 to 32 % in individual stands. Regression and correlation analysis confirmed a moderately strong relationship (R = 0.52; p < 0.05) between soil moisture content and average rut depth. This confirmed that soil moisture is a suitable and effective predictor of soil disturbance.

Keywords

Atterberg plasticity limit / Soil bearing capacity / Gravimetric sampling / Forest harvesting erosion

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