Influence of Site Preparation on Soil Conditions Affecting Stand Establishment and Tree Growth

Abstract Slash disposal, and the type and amount of competing vegetation that occur on a forest site, are the primary considerations of site preparation prescriptions. Site preparation effectiveness, as measured by pine survival and growth, can be improved by recognizing and separating soil manipulation effects from those that result from competition control. The data relating site preparation induced changes in soil properties to plantation growth are limited, but indicate that many common treatments have little potential for improving soil conditions. Only disking, bedding, and subsoiling are likely to have large positive effects. South. J. Appl. For. 12(3):170-178.

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Mechanical disturbance impacts on soil properties and lodgepole pine growth in British Columbia’s central interior

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s04-077 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 681-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

V. M. Blouin ◽

M. G. Schmidt ◽

C. E. Bulmer ◽

M. Krzic

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Lodgepole Pine ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Mechanical Resistance

Forest landings are areas located adjacent to haul roads where harvested trees that were skidded from the cutblock are processed and loaded onto trucks. Soils on landings are often excessively compacted by heavy timber harvesting machinery and may take many years to recover from such disturbance. This study examined soil properties and tree growth on unrehabilitated landings (with and without natural regeneration) and adjacent naturally regenerated clearcuts in the central interior of British Columbia (BC), 23 yr after landing construction. Landings (both with and without natural regeneration) had less favorable conditions for tree growth than did clearcuts, including significantly greater surface soil bulk density and mechanical resistance (on some dates) and lower total porosity and concentrations of C and N. Landings without natural regeneration had the least favorable soil conditions, which may account for the lack of natural regeneration. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) growing on portions of the landings did not differ in height from those growing in adjacent clearcuts. Site index, as estimated using the growth intercept method, did not differ between naturally regenerated landings (21.7 m) and clearcuts (22.0 m), suggesting that the soils may be equally capable of supporting productive forests. Key words: Forest soil disturbance, soil mechanical resistance, soil productivity, soil water content, natural regeneration

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Biochar-induced changes in soil properties affected immobilization/mobilization of metals/metalloids in contaminated soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments ◽

10.1007/s11368-015-1339-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 717-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Mahtab Ahmad ◽

Sang Soo Lee ◽

Sung Eun Lee ◽

Mohammad I. Al-Wabel ◽

Daniel C. W. Tsang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Changes In Soil Properties

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Basic Theory and Methods of Afforestation

Silviculture ◽

10.5772/intechopen.96164 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jie Duan ◽

Dilnur Abduwali

Keyword(s):

Site Preparation ◽

Site Classification ◽

Forest Site ◽

Site Conditions ◽

Site Factors ◽

Land Preparation ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Healthy Growth ◽

The Right

Afforestation is an important practice in silviculture. This chapter outlines the forest site, site preparation, selection of afforestation materials in the process of afforestation. The life cycle of forests is very long, and it is difficult to change them once afforested. Therefore, the forest site must be analyzed in depth before afforestation to maintain the success of afforestation and the healthy growth of forests later. Forest sites are mainly affected by environmental and human activities. To facilitate afforestation, it is necessary to evaluate and classify the forest site factors and achieve a suitable species planted on the right site. Site preparation is also based on site classification. It is usually carried out after determining the type of afforestation land, divided into mechanical land preparation and chemical methods. An essential task of site preparation is to maintain soil moisture and promote seedlings’ survival and growth. Afforestation materials are mainly divided into three categories: seed, seedling, and cutting. The choice of these three types of afforestation materials and methods is related to site conditions, tree species, and age.

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Changes in soil properties, tree growth, and nutrition over a period of 10 years after stump removal and scarification on moderately coarse soils in interior British Columbia

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2007.01.072 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 242 (2-3) ◽

pp. 625-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Graeme D. Hope

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Growth And Nutrition ◽

Changes In Soil Properties

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Site Preparation Effects on 20 Year Survival and Growth of Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and on Selected Soil Properties

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/18.1.44 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 44-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C.A. Harrington ◽

K.B. Piatek ◽

D.S. DeBell

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Survival And Growth

Abstract Long-term effects of site preparation on tree performance and soil properties are not well known. Five site preparation treatments were evaluated to determine how they affected survival and growth of Douglas-fir 3, 10, and 20 yr after planting, and soil bulk density, C, N, P, and organic matter concentrations at 0 to 20 cm soil depth 21 yr after planting. The site preparation treatments were imposed following logging of three harvest units of old-growth forest on a volcanic soil in southwestern Washington; the units were logged to leave 17, 38, and 53 ton/ha of woody residue. The site preparation treatments were hand-pile-and-burn, machine-pile-and-burn, scarification, broadcast burn, and control. Mean survival ranged from 86% at age 3 to 70% at age 20, and average tree heights at 3, 10, and 20 yr were 0.6, 4.1, and 11.7 m. The scarification treatment had the best growth; at age 20, its average tree was 21% taller, 26% larger in diameter, and 82% greater in volume than the control. The hand-pile-and-burn treatment did not differ from the control in tree growth; the machine-pile-and-burn and broadcast burn treatments were intermediate in their growth response. Average soil bulk density was 0.74 g/cm3, organic matter concentration was 118 g/kg, and C, N, and P concentrations were 49, 1.6, and 0.7 g/kg with no significant treatment effects. Site preparation may have benefited growth of the trees on these units by decreasing competition from invading and regrowing vegetation, increasing nutrient availability, or increasing soil temperature. West. J. Appl. For. 18(1):44–51.

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