Modeling of Field Traffic Intensity and Soil Compaction Risks in Agricultural Landscapes

During timber exploitation in forest stands harvesting machines pass repeatedly along the same track and can cause soil compaction, which leads to soil erosion and restricted tree root growth. The level of soil compaction depends on the number of passes and weight of the wood load. This paper aimed to evaluate soil compaction and eucalyptus growth as affected by the number of passes and wood load of a forwarder. The study was carried out in Santa Maria de Itabira county, Minas Gerais State - Brazil, on a seven-year-old eucalyptus stand planted on an Oxisol. The trees were felled by chainsaw and manually removed. Plots of 144 m² (four rows 12 m long in a 3 x 2 m spacing) were then marked off for the conduction of two trials. The first tested the traffic intensity of a forwarder which weighed 11,900 kg and carried 12 m³ wood (density of 480 kg m-3) and passed 2, 4, and 8 times along the same track. In the second trial, the forwarder carried loads of 4, 8, and 12 m³ of wood, and the machine was driven four times along the same track. In each plot, the passes affected four rows. Eucalyptus was planted in 30 x 30 x 30 cm holes on the compacted tracks. The soil in the area is clayey (470 clay and 440 g kg-1 sand content) and at depths of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm, respectively, soil organic carbon was 406 and 272 g kg-1 and the moisture content during the trial 248 and 249 g kg-1. These layers were assessed for soil bulk density and water-stable aggregates. The infiltration rate was measured by a cylinder infiltrometer. After 441 days the measurements were repeated, with additional analyses of: soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, N-NH4+, N-NO3-, porosity, and penetration resistance. Tree height, stem diameter, and stem dry matter were measured. Forwarder traffic increased soil compaction, resistance to penetration and microporosity while it reduced the geometric mean diameter, total porosity, macroporosity and infiltration rate. Stem dry matter yield and tree height were not affected by soil compaction. Two passes of the forwarder were enough to cause the disturbances at the highest levels. The compaction effects were still persistent 441 days after forwarder traffic.

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Wheel Load and Wheel Pass Frequency as Indicators for Soil Compaction Risk: A Four-Year Analysis of Traffic Intensity at Field Scale

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences10080292 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 292 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Katja Augustin ◽

Michael Kuhwald ◽

Joachim Brunotte ◽

Rainer Duttmann

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Agricultural Machinery ◽

Field Scale ◽

Work Processes ◽

Work Process ◽

Wheel Load ◽

Subsoil Compaction

Avoiding soil compaction is one of the objectives to ensure sustainable agriculture. Subsoil compaction in particular can be irreversible. Frequent passages by (increasingly heavy) agricultural machinery are one trigger for compaction. The aim of this work is to map and analyze the extent of traffic intensity over four years. The analysis is made for complete seasons and individual operations. The traffic intensity is distinguished into areas with more than five wheel passes, more than 5 Mg and 3 Mg wheel load. From 2014 to 2018, 63 work processes on a field were recorded and the wheel load and wheel passes were modeled spatially with FiTraM. Between 82% (winter wheat) and 100% (sugar beet) of the total infield area is trafficked during a season. The sugar beet season has the highest intensities. High intensities of more than five wheel passes and more than 5 Mg wheel load occur mainly during harvests in the headland. At wheel load ≥3 Mg, soil tillage also stresses the headland. In summary, no work process stays below one of the upper thresholds set. Based on the results, the importance of a soil-conserving management becomes obvious in order to secure the soil for agriculture in a sustainable way.

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Soil compaction during harvest operations in five tropical soils with different textures under eucalyptus forests

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/1413-70542018421005217 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 58-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paula Cristina Caruana Martins ◽

Moacir de Souza Dias Junior ◽

Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi ◽

Ernesto Norio Takahashi ◽

Diego Tassinari

Keyword(s):

Bearing Capacity ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Compression Tests ◽

Load Bearing Capacity ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

Load Bearing ◽

Structure Degradation ◽

Precompression Stress

ABSTRACT Traffic of farm machinery during harvest and logging operations has been identified as the main source of soil structure degradation in forestry activity. Soil susceptibility to compaction and the amount of compaction caused by each forest harvest operation differs according to a number of factors (such as soil strength, soil texture, kind of equipment, traffic intensity, among many others), what requires the adequate assessment of soil compaction under different traffic conditions. The objectives of this study were to determine the susceptibility to compaction of five soil classes with different textures under eucalyptus forests based on their load bearing capacity models; and to determine, from these models and the precompression stresses obtained after harvest operations, the effect of traffic intensity with different equipment in the occurrence of soil compaction. Undisturbed soil samples were collected before and after harvest operations, being then subjected to uniaxial compression tests to determine their precompression stress. The coarse-textured soils were less resistant and endured greater soil compaction. In the clayey LVd2, traffic intensity below four Forwarder passes limited compaction to a third of the samples, whereas in the sandy loam PVd all samples from the 0-3 cm layer were compacted regardless of traffic intensity. The Feller Buncher and the Clambunk presented a high potential to cause soil compaction even with only one or two passes. The use of soil load bearing capacity models and precompression stress determined after harvest and logging operations allowed insight into the soil compaction process in forestry soils.

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Ground based operation effects on soil disturbance by steel tracked skidder in a steep slope of forest

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/93/2009-jfs ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 6) ◽

pp. 278-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

B. Agherkakli ◽

A. Najafi ◽

S.H. Sadeghi

Keyword(s):

Soil Compaction ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Steep Slope ◽

Traffic Density ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Litter Mass ◽

Mass Removal ◽

Significant Difference ◽

North Of Iran

In this study, the effects of slope and traffic intensity on soil compaction, rutting and forest floor removal was evaluated on a skid trail in the natural forest of north of Iran. Combination of two levels of slope < 20% (SC1) and > 20% (SC2) and three levels of traffic (one, five and nine traffics) were studied. Treatment plots, with three replications, were established on the skid trail prior to skidding. The results of this study showed that all bulk densities were considerably higher in SC2 than in SC1 and average soil bulk densities were measured from 1.07 (g∙cm–3) to 1.23 (g∙cm–3) on skid trail and 0.91 (g∙cm–3) in undisturbed areas. With the increment of traffic, soil compaction increased but there was no significant difference among the three levels of traffic frequency in SC1 whereas it was significant between one and five cycles in SC2. Greatest rut depth was measured as 12 cm at nine traffics in SC2, although increase of traffic density caused deeper rut depth at all slope treatments, but it was higher at the SC2 in comparison to SC1. Litter mass decreased considerably on the skid trail with the increasing in slope and traffic. No important difference has been detected between SC1 and SC2 in terms of Litter mass removal. These results provide clear evidence that soil disturbance on steep trail is intensified.

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Spatially Explicit Soil Compaction Risk Assessment of Arable Soils at Regional Scale: The SaSCiA-Model

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10051618 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1618 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Michael Kuhwald ◽

Katja Dörnhöfer ◽

Natascha Oppelt ◽

Rainer Duttmann

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Sustainable Agriculture ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Temporal Analysis ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Spatially Explicit ◽

Arable Soils ◽

Actual Field ◽

Spatio Temporal

Soil compaction caused by field traffic is one of the main threats to agricultural landscapes. Compacted soils have a reduced hydraulic conductivity, lower plant growth and increased surface runoff resulting in numerous environmental issues such as increased nutrient leaching and flood risk. Mitigating soil compaction, therefore, is a major goal for a sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. To prevent undesirable effects of field traffic, it is essential to know where and when soil compaction may occur. This study developed a model for soil compaction risk assessment of arable soils at regional scale. A combination of (i) soil, weather, crop type and machinery information; (ii) a soil moisture model and (iii) soil compaction models forms the SaSCiA-model (Spatially explicit Soil Compaction risk Assessment). The SaSCiA-model computes daily maps of soil compaction risk and associated area statistics for varying depths at actual field conditions and for entire regions. Applications with open access data in two different study areas in northern Germany demonstrated the model’s applicability. Soil compaction risks strongly varied in space and time throughout the year. SaSCiA allows a detailed spatio-temporal analysis of soil compaction risk at the regional scale, which exceed those of currently available models. Applying SaSCiA may support farmers, stakeholders and consultants in making decision for a more sustainable agriculture.

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EFFECT OF TRAFFIC INTENSITIES OF A DIRECTIONAL FELLER AND SKIDDER ON THE COMPACTION OF A BRUNO NITISOL

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/1806-90882019000100011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tamara Izabel de Andrade Payá ◽

Eduardo da Silva Lopes ◽

Karina Maria Vieira Cavalieri-Polizeli ◽

Henrique Soares Koehler ◽

Marcelo Marques Lopes Muller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Compaction ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Soil Density ◽

Soil Layers ◽

Wood Harvesting ◽

Four Blocks ◽

Level Of Significance ◽

Traffic Simulations

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the compaction of a Bruno Nitisol caused by traffic intensities by a directional feller and skidder used to wood harvesting in a Pinus taeda stand. Data were collected at a forest company located in Parana State, Brazil. Samples were performed using an installation of four blocks (30 × 15 m) with subdivided plots and the treatments included a combination of five traffic simulations of directional feller and skidder machines, with the simulations performed in the plots at four soil depths, referred to as subplots. Compaction was evaluated by soil density, total porosity, microporosity, and macroporosity. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared with the Tukey test at a 5% level of significance. Linear regression equations were also adjusted to represent the relation between traffic intensity, depth, and the variable of interest. The results showed that machine traffic caused higher compaction of the superficial soil layers, resulting in a 14.6% increase in soil density compared to the soil subjected to no machine traffic. The increase in traffic intensity of the skidder tractor reduced macroporosity by 62.5% and 53.8% at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, respectively. Dragging of the logs by the skidder tractor increased soil compaction due to the several trips by the machine in a single line.

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Efecto del arrastre en la compactación y remoción de suelo y en la formación de surcos

Madera y Bosques ◽

10.21829/myb.2015.212451 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmad Solgi ◽

Ramin Naghdi ◽

Mehrdad Nikooy

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Rear Axle ◽

Critical Value ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Steep Slope ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Extensive Field ◽

Set Up ◽

Increasing Load

An extensive field trial was set up to examine the influence of traffic intensity (5, 10, and 15 skidding cycles) (i.e. pass back and forth on the skid trail) and skid trail slope (0-10, 10-20, and > 20)% on soil compaction, forest floor removal, and rut depth after logging. The results showed that dry bulk density and rut depth increased with the increase of traffic frequency and slope, but floor coverage decreased. Within each traffic treatment soil compaction raised with the increase of skid trail slope, so that significant differences in dry bulk density were observed between slopes lower than 20% and those greater than 20%. Bulk density has become quite close to the critical value after 15 cycles. We observed soil rutting on the treatments started with 10 cycles. Soil disturbance increased significantly on slopes with less than 20% inclination with a dry bulk density of 1.157 g cm-3 after 5 cycles compared to 0.923 g cm-3 on slopes lower than 10%. In addition the litter mass on the treatments with 10 cycles and slopes greater than 20% (386.586 kg ha-1) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than treatments with 15 cycles and slopes lower than 10% (545.382 kg ha-1). Data suggest that disturbance increased earlier in the steep treatments than in less sloping conditions. The dramatic increase of soil disturbance on treatments with slopes greater than 20% may be associated with increasing load on the rear axle combined with slipping on steep slope trail.Efecto del arrastre en la compactación y remoción de suelo y en la formación de surcosSe realizó un extenso estudio de campo para examinar la influencia de la intensidad de tráfico (5, 10 y 15 ciclos de arrastre) (es decir, pasar de ida y vuelta en la pista de arrastre) y de la pendiente del terreno de arrastre (0-10, 10-20 y más de 20)% en la compactación del suelo, remoción suelo del bosque y la profundidad de la huella después de la tala. Los resultados mostraron que la densidad de masa seca y la profundidad de las raíces se incrementan conforme lo hacen la frecuencia del tráfico y la pendiente y que la cobertura de suelo disminuyó. Dentro de cada tratamiento de tráfico, la compactación del suelo aumentó con el incremento de la pendiente del terreno, se observaron diferencias significativas en la densidad aparente seca entre la pendiente menor a 20% y la mayor a 20%. La densidad aparente se acerca a su valor crítico después de 15 ciclos. Se observó la formación de surcos en el suelo en los tratamientos de 10 ciclos. La perturbación del suelo aumentó significativamente en las pendientes con más de 20% de inclinación, con una densidad seca aparente de 1,157 g cm-3 después de 5 ciclos en comparación con 0,923 g cm-3 en pendientes menores a 10%. Se observó que la masa de desechos vegetales (hojarasca) en el suelo en los tratamientos con 10 ciclos y laderas de más de 20% (386.586 kg ha-1) fue significativamente más baja (p <0,05) que en los tratamientos con 15 ciclos y laderas de menos de 10% (545,382 kg ha-1). Los datos sugieren que la perturbación se incrementa primero en los terrenos empinados que en aquellos con menor inclinación. El considerable aumento de la perturbación del suelo en los tratamientos con pendientes de más 20% puede estar asociado con el aumento de la carga en el eje trasero combinado con el deslizamiento sobre el terreno empinado.

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Levels of induced pressure and compaction as caused by forest harvesting operations

CERNE ◽

10.1590/s0104-77602013000100011 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 83-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Paula Cristina Caruana Martins ◽

Moacir de Souza Dias Junior ◽

Josemar da Silva Carvalho ◽

Arystides Resende Silva ◽

Sebastião Machado Fonseca

Keyword(s):

Uniaxial Compression ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Soil Structure ◽

Forest Harvesting ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Uniaxial Compression Test ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

Before And After ◽

Red Latosol

This study aimed to determine levels of pressure and compaction induced by forest harvesting operations in a Red Latosol (LV) under planted eucalyptus. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from layers 0-3 and 15-18 cm and then used in a uniaxial compression test. Sampling was done before and after harvesting operations. Equipment being evaluated included: harvester, feller buncher, forwarder, self-loading adapted tractor, standard truck, wide-tire truck and grapple saw. Average pressures induced by the grapple saw were 320 kPa and 272 kPa, causing compaction in 80% and 20% of samples respectively from layers 0-3 cm and 15-18 cm, which indicates substantial degradation of soil structure in areas where timber is processed. In layer 0-3 cm, average pressures induced by the harvester and by the feller buncher were 240 kPa and 263 kPa respectively, while in layer 15-18 cm pressures were 234 kPa and 239 kPa respectively. The feller buncher caused higher soil compaction than the harvester in layer 0-3 cm, yet in layer 15-18 cm they had similar behavior. All timber forwarding equipment led to soil compaction. The wide-tire truck was the forwarding implement promoting the highest rate of compaction, in both residue conditions. Traffic intensity 7 promoted the highest rate of soil compaction.

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Neotropical Forest Harvesting Impact in Misiones, Argentina: Soil Compaction and Traffic Intensity

10.13031/2013.9223 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

P. Mac Donagh ◽

Juan Garibaldi ◽

Liliana Rivero ◽

Roberto Fernández ◽

Shigeo Kobayashi

Keyword(s):

Soil Compaction ◽

Forest Harvesting ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Neotropical Forest

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Evaluation of agricultural field traffic by modelling traffic intensity and related soil compaction risk

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7366 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Kuhwald ◽

Katja Augustin ◽

Rainer Duttmann

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Soil Degradation ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Assessment Model ◽

Weather Data ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Agricultural Field ◽

Wheel Load ◽

Spatio Temporal

Soil compaction by field traffic is one of the main threats to all agricultural soils. Besides lower biomass productivity, compacted soils have a reduced regulation function which affects the air, water and nutrient cycles. To evaluate and mitigate soil degradation by field traffic, it is important to know where, when and to what extent soil compaction may occur during certain traffic events.This study presents an approach to assess soil compaction risk at the field scale, considering the spatio-temporal changes of soil strengths and the machinery-induced changes in load and stress. Two newly developed models, the field traffic model &#8220;FiTraM&#8221; and the spatially explicit soil compaction risk assessment model &#8220;SaSCiA&#8221;, were used to evaluate the individual soil compaction risk for each field traffic activity during the maize cropping season. RTK-GPS data recorded by all farm vehicles served for the spatial calculation of traffic intensity and changing wheel loads at high spatial resolution (< 30 cm). These data were subsequently used for soil compaction risk assessment based on readily available soil and weather data.Our model results indicated that nearly 95% of a field was trafficked throughout the maize-season; harvest traffic at high wheel load contributed to more than the half of the total trafficked area. Furthermore, the analyses showed that soil compaction risk varies greatly within individual fields. Soil moisture and soil texture variation inside the field results in varying soil strength and, therefore, in varying effects of field traffic on soil functions. Thus, one part of a field can be negatively affected by field traffic through an increase in dry bulk density and a decrease in hydraulic conductivity, while the other part is not affected.In addition to the spatio-temporal assessment of field traffic intensity and soil compaction risk, the presented approach enables the calculation of maximum allowable wheel load until no harmful soil degradation occurs. Thus, the approach may support farmers in their decision-making for a more sustainable soil management. &#160;

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