Soil Disturbance Associated with Timber Harvesting in Southwestern British Columbia

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Bockheim ◽  
T. M. Ballard ◽  
R. P. Wellington
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Soil Material ◽  
Parent Materials ◽  
Steep Slopes ◽  
High Lead ◽  
Lead Site

Soil disturbance associated with timber harvesting was evaluated in five localities in southwestern British Columbia, along transects located away from main haul roads and associated sidecast soil material. Small skid trails and associated sidecast material were included in the evaluation. Of the several disturbance indices evaluated, the percentage of area occupied by exposed mineral soil (EMS) appears to be most useful. For 13 high-lead logged sites, EMS averaged 29% and ranged from 5 to 56%. Low EMS (9%) was associated with a high-lead site logged over snow. High EMS was associated with steep slopes (greater than 70%) and shale-rich soils. Less disturbance occurred on soils derived from granitic parent materials. On two tractor-logged sites with 25 to 60% slopes, EMS was 71 and 68%, respectively. On a helicopter-logged site, EMS was only 5%. These data are compared to estimates of soil disturbance caused by logging in other regions of western North America.

Response of lodgepole pine health to soil disturbance treatments in British Columbia, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1045-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anya M. Reid ◽  
William K. Chapman ◽  
John Marty Kranabetter ◽  
Cindy E. Prescott
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Base Saturation ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Health Response

Soil disturbance from organic matter loss and soil compaction can impair site productivity, but less is known about whether these disturbances also affect forest health (defined here as the presence and severity of damaging pests and diseases, mortality, and overall vigour). We used six long-term soil productivity (LTSP) sites in the interior of British Columbia, Canada to test the effects of organic-matter removal and soil compaction on forest health, and to explore the relationship between forest health response and potential indicators of site sensitivity: mineral soil pH, base saturation, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N), carbon to phosphorus ratio (C:P), and calcium to aluminum ratio (Ca:Al). Visual forest health surveys were conducted on 5400 15 and 20 year old lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) trees. Soil disturbance treatments significantly affected forest health metrics, but this response typically differed among sites. Principle component analyses indicated the response of healthy trees was negatively related to soil base saturation, the response of dead or dying trees related to soil C:P, and the response of tree disease related to soil Ca:Al, pH, base saturation, and C:N. We found forest health response to soil disturbance varied among sites with relationships between response and soil chemical properties, suggesting a greater vulnerability of pine stands to disease with increasing soil acidity.

scholarly journals Management Implications of Using Brush Mats for Soil Protection on Machine Operating Trails during Mechanized Cut-to-Length Forest Operations

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Labelle ◽  
Dirk Jaeger
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Protective Layer ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Forest Operations ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Bioenergy Generation

Mechanized cut-to-length forest operations often rely on the use of brush mats created from harvesting debris (tree limbs, tops, and foliage) to reduce soil disturbances as a result of in-stand machine traffic. These brush mats, placed directly on the forest floor within machine operating trails, distribute loads of timber harvesting and extraction machinery to a greater area, thereby reducing peak pressures exerted to the ground and rutting for maintaining technical trafficability of operating trails. Forest biomass has also been promoted as a source of green and renewable energy, to reduce carbon emissions from energy production. However, to maintain sufficient quality of biomass for bioenergy operations (high heating value and low ash content), brush needs to be free of contaminants such as mineral soil. This constraint eliminates the possibility of the dual use of brush, first as a soil protective layer on machine operating trails and afterwards for bioenergy generation. Leaving machine operating trails uncovered will cause machine loads to be fully and directly applied to the soil, thus increasing the likelihood of severe soil disturbance, tree growth impediment and reducing trail trafficability. The main objective of this study was to quantify the effect of varying machine operating trail spacing and width on the amount of brush required for soil protection. This was achieved by creating five model forest stands (four mature and one immature), commonly found in New Brunswick, Canada, and using their characteristics as input in the Biomass Opportunity and Supply Model (BiOS) from FPInnovations. BiOS provided several key biomass related outputs allowing the determination of the amount of biomass available for soil protection, which was the main focus of this research. The simulation results showed that regardless of trail area tested, all four mature forest stands were able to support uniform distribution of 20 kg m−2 brush mats (green mass) throughout their entire trail network during clear-cut operations but not during partial harvests. From the three factors assessed (brush amount, trail width, and trail spacing), trail width had the highest effect on the required brush amount for trail protection, which in turn has a direct impact on the amount of brush that could be used for bioenergy generation.

THE CLAY MINERALS IN SOME BRITISH COLUMBIA SUBSOILS

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Clark ◽  
J. E. Brydon ◽  
H. J. Hortie
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Diffraction Analysis ◽  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Clay Mineralogy ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
The South ◽  
Parent Materials ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Northeastern Part ◽  
Montmorillonitic Clay

X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the clay minerals present in fourteen subsoil samples that were selected to represent some more important clay-bearing deposits in British Columbia. The clay mineralogy of the subsoils varied considerably but montmorillonitic clay minerals tended to predominate in the water-laid deposits of the south and illite in the soil parent materials of the Interior Plains region of the northeastern part of the Province.

Silvicultural treatments, microclimatic conditions and seedling response in Southern Interior clearcuts

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Fleming ◽  
T. A. Black ◽  
R. S. Adams ◽  
R. J. Stathers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Organic Horizons ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Microclimatic Conditions

Post-harvest levels of soil disturbance and vegetation regrowth strongly influence microclimate conditions, and this has important implications for seedling establishment. We examined the effects of blading (scalping), soil loosening (ripping) and vegetation control (herbicide), as well as no soil disturbance, on growing season microclimates and 3-yr seedling response on two grass-dominated clearcuts at different elevations in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Warmer soil temperatures were obtained by removing surface organic horizons. Ripping produced somewhat higher soil temperatures than scalping at the drier, lower-elevation site, but slightly reduced soil temperatures at the wetter, higher-elevation site. Near-surface air temperatures were more extreme (higher daily maximums and lower daily minimums) over the control than over exposed mineral soil. Root zone soil moisture deficits largely reflected transpiration by competing vegetation; vegetation removal was effective in improving soil moisture availability at the lower elevation site, but unnecessary from this perspective at the higher elevation site. The exposed mineral surfaces self-mulched and conserved soil moisture after an initial period of high evaporation. Ripping and scalping resulted in somewhat lower near-surface available soil water storage capacities. Seedling establishment on both clearcuts was better following treatments which removed vegetation and surface organic horizons and thus enhanced microclimatic conditions, despite reducing nutrient supply. Such treatments may, however, compromise subsequent stand development through negative impacts on site nutrition. Temporal changes in the relative importance of different physical (microclimate) and chemical (soil nutrition) properties to soil processes and plant growth need to be considered when evaluating site productivity. Key words: Microclimate, soil temperature, air temperature, soil moisture, clearcut, seedling establishment

Japewia Subaurifera, A New Lichen Genus and Species From North-West Europe and Western North America

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tønsberg
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North America ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Coniferous Trees ◽  
North West

AbstractThe genus Japewia Tønsb. is introduced to accommodate three species including J. subaurifera Muhr & Tønsb. sp. nov. based on material from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Canada (British Columbia) and U.S.A. (Washington). This species is closely related to Lecidea tornoensis Nyl. but is distinguished in being sorediate and by the production of lobaric acid (accessory) and acetone-soluble pigments. It grows on bark of deciduous and coniferous trees. Lecidea carrollii Coppins & P. James and L. tornoensis Nyl. are transferred to Japewia.

The Lower Jurassic phosphorites of southeastern British Columbia and terrane accretion to western North America

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1612-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Poulton ◽  
J. D. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North America ◽  
Oceanic Crust ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Depositional Model ◽  
Western North America ◽  
The West ◽  
Terrane Accretion

Sinemurian phosphorites in southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta conform with the "West Coast type" phosphorite depositional model. The model indicates that they were deposited on or near the Early Jurassic western cratonic margin, next to a sea or trough from which cold water upwelled. This suggests that the allochthonous terrane Quesnellia lay well offshore in Sinemurian time. The sea separating Quesnellia from North America was partly floored by oceanic crust ("Eastern Terrane") and partly by a thick sequence of rifted, continental terrace wedge rocks comprising the Purcell Supergroup and overlying Paleozoic sequence. This sequence must have been depressed sufficiently that access of upwelling deep currents to the phosphorite depositional area was not impeded.

Evaluation of planting sites common to a southeast Alaska clear-cut. II. Available inoculum of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcumgeophilum

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G. Shaw III ◽  
Roy C. Sidle
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Ectomycorrhizal Fungus ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Mycorrhizal Propagules ◽  
Soil Volume ◽  
High Lead

Three microsites common to clear-cuts logged by the high-lead method in southeast Alaska were sampled to quantify the occurrence and viability of sclerotia of Cenococcumgeophilum Fr. Undisturbed duff had significantly greater numbers of sclerotia per gram or per cubic centimetre of soil than either exposed mineral soil or rotten wood. There were significantly fewer viable sclerotia per cubic centimetre of rotten wood than in either exposed mineral soil or undisturbed duff. Numbers of viable sclerotia that could contact the root plug of a containerized seedling when it was planted into rotten wood, exposed mineral soil, or undisturbed duff were calculated to be 0.7, 6.1, and 7.2, respectively. Expressing abundance of mycorrhizal propagules by soil volume, rather than weight, is more meaningful when microsites with large differences in soil bulk density are compared.

scholarly journals Tolerant hardwood natural regeneration 15 years after various silvicultural treatments on an industrial freehold of northwestern New Brunswick

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (04) ◽  
pp. 512-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Béland ◽  
Bruno Chicoine
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Selection Cutting

We examined applicability of various partial cutting systems in order to regenerate tolerant hardwood stands dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccarhum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) on northern New Brunswick J.D. Irving Ltd. freehold land. Sampling of 1065 one-m2 plots in 31 stands managed by selection cutting, shelterwood method and strip or patch cutting and in six control stands allowed a 15-year retrospective study of natural regeneration in stands of low residual densities and with minimal soil disturbance and no control of competing vegetation. Beech regeneration was most abundant in the patch cuts, yellow birch in shelterwood stands and sugar maple in the selection system areas. Results suggest that initial stand conditions influence the composition of the regeneration more than the prescribed treatment. At the stand scale (a few hectares), sugar maple recruitment was positively influenced by its proportion in the initial stand, and negatively by the cover of herbs and shrubs. Yellow birch regeneration was mainly affected by shrub competition. At the plot (1 m2) scale, mineral soil and decayed wood substrates and ground-level transmitted light were determinant factors for yellow birch regeneration. Beech-dominated stands were likely to regenerate to beech. A dense beech sucker understory was promoted in harvested patches. Areas with dense understory of American beech, shrubs, or herbs require site preparation to reduce interference either before or at the time of partial cutting. Shelterwood seed cutting and selection cutting should leave a residual of 12 m2/ha and 17 m2/ha respectively in seed trees uniformly distributed.

scholarly journals Biomass of Coarse Woody Debris Following Fire and Clearcutting in Lodgepole Pine Forests

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 33-35
Author(s):  
Dennis Knight ◽  
Daniel Tinker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Micro Organisms

In forest ecosystems, the decomposition of coarse woody debris, woody roots, twigs, leaves and micro-organisms is a primary source of mineral soil organic matter. Primary productivity, the accumulation of nutrients, and other important ecosystem processes are largely dependent on the mineral soil organic matter that has developed during hundreds or thousands of years. Large quantities of coarse woody debris are typically produced following natural disturbances such as fires, pest/pathogen outbreaks, and windstorms, and make a significant contribution to the formation of soil organic matter (SOM). In contrast, timber harvesting often removes much of the coarse woody debris (CWD), which could result in a decrease in the quantity and a change in the quality of mineral soil organic matter.

scholarly journals Managing Woodland Caribou in West-Central British Columbia

Rangifer ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah B. Cichowski
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Range Management ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Winter Range

Initial long term planning for logging on the Tweedsmuir-Entiako caribou winter range began in the early 1980s. Because little information was available on which to base winter range management, the British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch began studies on radio-collared caribou in 1983, and an intensive study on caribou winter habitat requirements was conducted from 1985 to 1988. Terrestrial lichens were identified as the primary winter food source for the caribou, and in 1987, caribou winter range ecosystem maps, which emphasized abundance of terrestrial lichens, were produced. The ecosystem maps and information from the caribou study, including potential direct and indirect effects of timber harvesting on the caribou population, were used to develop a management strategy for the winter range. The management strategy comprised two levels of management: a landscape level (Caribou Management Zones); and a site-specific level (caribou habitat/timber values). Timber information associated with BC Ministry of Forests forest cover maps was integrated using a Geographic Information System. Six winter range management options were proposed ranging from harvesting low value caribou habitats only throughout the winter range to total protection of the entire winter range. Impacts of those options on both the caribou population and on the timber supply were evaluated. The options were reviewed through a public planning process, the Entiako Local Resource Use Plan, and recommendations from that process were forwarded to the British Columbia Protected Areas Strategy.

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