Compaction and soil disturbances from logging in southern Chile

Abstract

In an Andesitic Dystrochrept clay forest soil, the effect of a different number of passes of a rubber-tyred skidder on bulk density, total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity was studied. Soil samples were taken in undisturbed areas, and under skid trails with 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 machine passes. Most compaction occurred after the initial few passes, but bulk density also increased significantly after more than 3 passes. Increases in bulk density were still important at the maximum sampling depth of 20 cm. Total porosity decreased for all treatments, associated with a reduction of macropores, and saturated hydraulic conductivity became significantly reduced after the first initial passes. -from Authors