Compaction of forest soils. A review

Soil Research ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
EL Greacen ◽  
R Sands

The problem of soil compaction in forestry differs from that in agriculture because of differences in the nature of the crop, in particular the weight and size of the plant members and the length of time that they persist. The roots compact the soil as they increase in size, but they also transmit the weight of the tree and forces generated by the wind onto the soil. There are important differences in management practices; in forestry modern harvesting machines apply heavy loads and, for reasons of cost, tend to be kept in operation throughout the year. As a consequence the structure of the soil suffers some damage, often manifested as compaction. Compaction arising from such sources may reduce the growth of the current trees or trees subsequently planted on the site. But it is difficult to predict the extent of such reduction, if any, because of the complex of interactions involved. Important factors concerned, namely, the soil water regime and the organic matter content, are emphasized. A conceptual model is proposed as a predictive tool. The mechanics of soil compaction, the effects of compaction on the physical properties of the soil, and techniques for the prevention and amelioration of compaction of forest soils, are discussed.

Author(s):  
Juliana Vantellingen ◽  
Sean C. Thomas

Log landings are areas within managed forests used to process and store felled trees prior to transport. Through their construction and use soil is removed or redistributed, compacted, and organic matter contents may be increased by incorporation of wood fragments. The effects of these changes to soil properties on methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) flux is unclear and unstudied. We quantified CH<sub>4</sub> flux rates from year-old landings in Ontario, Canada, and examined spatial variability and relationships to soil properties within these sites. Landings emitted CH<sub>4</sub> throughout the growing season; the average CH<sub>4</sub> emission rate from log landings was 69.2 ± 12.8 nmol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> (26.2 ± 4.8 g CH<sub>4</sub> C m<sup>-2</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>), a rate comparable to CH<sub>4</sub>-emitting wetlands. Emission rates were correlated to soil pH, organic matter content and quantities of buried woody debris. These properties led to strong CH<sub>4</sub> emissions, or “hotspots”, in certain areas of landings, particularly where processing of logs occurred and incorporated woody debris into the soil. At the forest level, emissions from landings were estimated to offset ~12% of CH<sub>4</sub> consumption from soils within the harvest area, although making up only ~0.5% of the harvest area. Management practices to avoid or remediate these emissions should be developed as a priority measure in “climate-smart” forestry.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Šimanský Vladimír ◽  
Lukáč Martin

Soil structure is a key determinant of many soil environmental processes and is essential for supporting terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Management of arable soils plays a significant role in forming and maintaining their structure. Between 1994 and 2011, we studied the influence of soil tillage and fertilisation regimes on the stability of soil structure of loamy Haplic Luvisol in a replicated long-term field experiment in the Dolná Malanta locality (Slovakia). Soil samples were repeatedly collected from plots exposed to the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) combined with conventional (NPK) and crop residue-enhanced fertilisation (CR+NPK). MT resulted in an increase of critical soil organic matter content (St) by 7% in comparison with CT. Addition of crop residues and NPK fertilisers significantly increased St values (by 7%) in comparison with NPK-only treatments. Soil tillage and fertilisation did not have any significant impact on other parameters of soil structure such as dry sieving mean weight diameters (MWD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD<sub>WSA</sub>), vulnerability coefficient (Kv), stability index of water-stable aggregates (Sw), index of crusting (Ic), contents of water-stable macro- (WSA<sub>ma</sub>) and micro-aggregates (WSA<sub>mi</sub>). Ic was correlated with organic matter content in all combinations of treatments. Surprisingly, humus quality did not interact with soil management practices to affect soil structure parameters. Higher sums of base cations, CEC and base saturation (Bs) were linked to higher Sw values, however higher values of hydrolytic acidity (Ha) resulted in lower aggregate stability in CT treatments. Higher content of K<sup>+</sup> was responsible for higher values of MWD<sub>WSA </sub>and MWD in CT. In MT, contents of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> were significantly correlated with contents of WSA<sub>mi </sub>and WSA<sub>ma</sub>. Higher contents of Na<sup>+</sup> negatively affected St values and positive correlations were detected between Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> and Ic in NPK treatments.


Author(s):  
Д.А. Данилов ◽  
А.В. Жигунов ◽  
Б.Н. Рябинин ◽  
А.А. Вайман

Используя потенциальное плодородие посагрогенных почв, можно выращивать целевые древесные насаждения и получать балансовую и товарную древесину в более короткие сроки, чем на землях лесного фонда. Проблематика данного вопроса мало исследована и в настоящее время необходимо оценить перспективность выращивания насаждений высокой продуктивности на постагрогенных. Целью проведённого исследования было сравнение лесных и постагрогенных почв по таким параметрам, как содержание углерода органического вещества и общего азота, для прогнозирования перспективности организации хозяйства с ускоренным выращиванием продуктивных древесных насаждений на залежных землях. На постагрогенных и лесопокрытых землях были подобраны площади со сходными условиями почвообразования под спелыми древостоями, относящихся к типам леса: черничник, кисличник и дубравнотравный и почвенными комплексами постагрогенных залежных земель. Проводилась оценка ряда физико-химических показателей почв по общепринятым в почвоведении методикам: определялся гранулометрический состав, плотность сложения и мощность генетических почвенных горизонтов. Плотность сложения всех горизонтов оценивалась по Качинскому; определение углерода проводилось сухим озолением, общего азота по Кьельдалю, рН солевой вытяжки потенциометрическим методом.Анализ запасов углерода органического вещества (Сорг) и азота (Nобщ) в генетических горизонтах почв черничного, кисличного и дубравнотравного типов леса показывает увеличение содержания органического вещества и общего азота от черничного к дубравнотравному типу леса. Происходит снижение содержания органического углерода от гумусового горизонта к оподзоленному: в дубравнотравных типах леса – в 2,8; кисличных – в 7,6; в черничных – в 8,5 раз. Возобновление на постагрогенных землях носит куртинный характер или происходит по микро понижениям бывших борозд. Содержание органического вещества в пахотном горизонте данных участков постагрогенных земель находится на уровне кисличного типа леса. Содержание общего азота в данных почвах высокое от 5 до 7,4 т/га – на уровне дубравнотравного типа леса. Отношение С:N, которое характеризует обогащенность гумуса азотом, для большинства гумусовых горизонтов почв составляет 8–10, что отвечает высокой и средней степени обеспеченности этим элементом. По содержанию Сорг и Nобщ в верхнем горизонте почвы образуют следующий убывающий ряд: травяно-дубравный тип леса > залежные земли > кисличный тип леса > черничный тип леса > пашня. Проведённый сравнительный анализ физического и агрохимического состояния постагрогенных и лесных почв показал, что несмотря на предшествующее антропогенное воздействие, агрозёмный горизонт сохраняет высокое содержание органического вещества и общего азота. Ухудшение свойств постагрогенных почв на исследуемых участках не происходит и трансформации в сторону природных лесных почв региона не наблюдается, несмотря на длительный период залежности (свыше 30 лет). Соотношение углерода и азота в постагрогенных почвах по почвенному профилю показывает более высокое плодородие, чем в лесных почвах, где показатель С:N оптимален только части горизонта А1. Оценивая пригодность обследованных участков залежных земель на предмет ускоренного выращивания различных древесных пород для получения биомассы, можно констатировать, что уровень содержания органического вещества и общего азота превышает или соответствует условиям произрастания по IA –I классу бонитета для региона исследования. Using potential fertility mosagrogen soil you can grow of target woody plants and to balance and marketable timber in a shorter time than in the lands of the forest Fund. The problem of this issue is little investigated and now it is necessary to assess the prospects of growing high productivity plantations on postagrogenic. The aim of the study was to compare forest and postagrogenic soils in such parameters as the carbon content of organic matter and total nitrogen, to predict the prospects for the organization of the economy with the accelerated cultivation of productive tree plantations on fallow lands. In postagrogenic and wooded land were selected in the area with similar conditions of soil formation under ripe forest stands belonging to the forest types: myrtillus, oxalis and quercus-herbosa and postagrogenic soil complexes of fallow lands. Conducted assessment of some physico-chemical parameters of soil common in soil science methods: determined particle size distribution, the density of the composition and power of the genetic soil horizons. The density of addition of all horizons was estimated by Kaczynski; determination of carbon was carried out by dry ashing, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, pH salt extraction by the potentiometric method. Analysis of carbon stocks of organic matter (С) and nitrogen (N) in the genetic horizons of soils of blueberry, acidic and oak-grass forest types shows an increase in the content of organic matter and total nitrogen from blueberry to oak-grass forest type. There is a decrease in the content of organic carbon from the humus horizon to the ashed one: in quercus-herbosa forest types – 2.8, acidic – 7.6, myrtillus – 8.5 times. The postagrogenic restoration to the land is curtains character or occurs at the micro depressions of the former furrows. The organic matter content in the arable horizon of postagrogenic parcel of land be at the level of parents type of the wood. The content of total nitrogen in these soils is high from 5 to 7.4 t/ha – at the level of oak-grass forest type. The ratio C: N, which characterizes the enrichment of humus nitrogen, for most humus horizons of soils is 8-10, which corresponds to a high and medium degree of security with this element. According to the content of weeds and Communities in the upper horizon of the soil form the following decreasing series: quercus-herbosa type forest > lands >forest oxalis type > myrtillus type forest > arable land. Comparative analysis of physical and agrochemical condition of postagrogenic and forest soils showed that, in spite of previous anthropogenic impact, agronomy horizon maintains a high organic matter content and total nitrogen. Deterioration of the properties of postagrogenic soils in the study areas does not occur and transformation in the direction of natural forest soils of the region is not observed, despite the long period of occurrence (over 30 years). The ratio of carbon and nitrogen in postagrogenic soils by soil profile shows a higher fertility than in forest soils, where the indicator C:N is optimal only part of the horizon A1. Assessing the suitability of the surveyed areas of fallow lands for the accelerated cultivation of different species of wood to produce biomass, it can be stated that the level of organic matter and total nitrogen exceeds or corresponds to the conditions of growth in Ia –I class of bonitet for the region of the study.


Author(s):  
Job Teixeira de Oliveira ◽  
Cassiano Garcia Roque ◽  
Rubens Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Rafael Montanari ◽  
Claudinei Martins Guimarães ◽  
...  

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) can be cultivated practically throughout the year in different regions of Brazil, provided there are no water and temperature limitations. This study was carried out in a Quartzarenic Neosol, in the municipality of Cassilândia, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, in the 2016/2017 agricultural year. This study aimed to establish the linear and spatial interrelations of the penetration resistance (PR), gravimetric moisture (GM), and organic matter content (OM) with bean grain yield (GY) in the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m soil layers, collected in a mesh of 117 georeferenced points [81 points of the base mesh (6 m spacing among points)] and 36 mesh points with higher density (2 m spacing among points). Data analysis was carried out by statistical and geostatistical techniques that enabled to note that the organic matter content correlates linearly and negatively with penetration resistance, indicating that soil management practices aiming to increase its profile improve its physical conditions and therefore the bean grain development and yield. The gravimetric moisture and soil organic matter content correlate spatially, directly, and linearly with bean grain yield, proving to be the best properties among those surveyed to estimate and increase its agricultural productivity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanmin Yao ◽  
Liming Ye ◽  
Huajun Tang ◽  
Pengqin Tang ◽  
Deying Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractSoil organic matter (SOM) content is one of the most important indicators of soil quality and hence the productive capacity of soils. Northeast China (NEC) is the most important region in grain production in China. In this study,we assessed the spatiotemporal change of cropland SOM content in NEC using sampling data of 2005 and survey data of 1985. We also analysed the driving forces behind the SOM content change. Our results showed that SOM content decreased in 39% of all the cropland in NEC, while increase in SOM content was only detected on 16% of the cropland. SOM remained unchanged in nearly half (i.e. 45%) of the cropland. Our results also revealed that cropping intensity and fertilizer application were the two most important factors driving SOM change. Overall, results from this research provided novel details of the spatiotemporal patterns of cropland SOM content change in NEC which was not revealed in earlier assessments. The datasets presented here can be used not only as baselines for the calibration of process-based carbon budget models, but also to identify regional soil quality hotspots and to guide spatial-explicit soil management practices.


2007 ◽  
Vol 146 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian D. Yesilonis ◽  
Bruce R. James ◽  
Richard V. Pouyat ◽  
Bahram Momen

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Jacir João Chies ◽  
Helvio Debli Casalinho ◽  
Lizete Stumpf ◽  
Marília Alves Brito Pinto ◽  
Leonir Aldrigui Dutra Junior

Farmers' local knowledge about soil quality and management practices should be considered to assess the impact of agricultural technology packages on the environmental performance of agro-ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the soil quality under agroecological production in southern Brazil, which was considered of good quality by the farmers' perception. From August to November 2017, ten farms from Liberdade settlement were visited, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information about soil and agricultural knowledge. “What does good quality soil mean? What cares for preserve soil quality? Does the soil location in landscape influence conservation practices?” were the questions asked. In May 2018, soil samples were collected from each area, and chemical, physical, and biological attributes were determined. All farmers mentioned the organic matter indicated good soil quality; however, the study showed that most soils have low content, a consequence of the annual tillage adopted by all farmers for the implantation of seeds crops; Farmers indicated that a good quality soil has "life" with the presence of organisms. In our study, a low population of mites and springtails in most areas was observed. Positive farmers’ perception about the organic matter content and soil organism’s presence in their agroecological production areas come from the degradation history of the areas, at the same time that they attribute improvements in soil quality due to the actions adopted over the 10 years of agroecological production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-94
Author(s):  
J.J. Gairhe ◽  
S. Khanal ◽  
S. Thapa

Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) are slow and difficult to monitor, usually apparent after few decades. Recent changes in the agriculture had its influence on soil, including the soil organic matter content. About 60% of soil in Nepal now have low organic matter content. Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) was focused more on the concept of green revolution to increase the chemical fertilizer inputs, however, the scenario is changing. Use of organic fertilizers is promoted extensively by government and different organizations with a target of increasing SOM content from 1.92% in 2015 to 4% by 2035. This paper aims at analysing the current status, targeted goal and the challenges faced in the augmentation of the soil organic matter using data available. Achieving this target requires an addition of extra 2.244 ton/ha of organic matter on a yearly basis for 20 years. The average amount of organic matter (2.5-3 ton/ha) applied is lesser than a single season grain harvest. 4.69% of sites had high soil organic matter in fiscal year 075/76 which slipped to 2.64% in 2076/77. The sites with low soil organic matter increased from 12.73% to 15.31%. The causes behind the SOM decline varies according to different agro-ecological zones like soil erosion, residue burning, imbalanced fertilizer use, defective FYM production etc. Findings suggest precise technologies required to be adopted to tackle with the different niche specific causes of soil fertility decline. Despite the complete nutrient content, bulky nature of organic fertilizers sets a major drawback regarding their transportation, distribution and commercialization. Government of Nepal is promoting organic fertilizer use by subsidizing their production cost by 50%. Following integrated nutrient management (INM) techniques, sustainable soil management practices (SSMP) and promotion of use of locally available resources can play a huge role in making the technology sustainable to the farmers.


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