Logging and soil disturbance in southeast British Columbia

The purpose of this study was to document and to analyze extent, type, and degree of soil disturbance on ground-skidded and cable-yarded cutovers. The primary hypothesis was that ground skidding on steep, high elevation sites generates more soil disturbance than cable yarding. Thirty-one cutovers were surveyed in the Nelson Forest Region: 25 logged by ground skidding and 6 by cable yarding. Three replications were obtained for each season – slope class on ground-skidded sites. Cable-logged areas were also replicated three times, but only for season. Elevations of the cutovers ranged from 910 to 1970 m with an average of 1360 m. Slope steepness on cutovers ranged from 5 to 74%. Soil disturbance was significantly greater on ground-skidded than on cable-yarded cutovers, averaging 40–45% vs. 22–30%, respectively, regardless of season. Differences in soil disturbance between logging methods by season were small and not significant. Average soil disturbances for summer cable yarding and ground skidding were 30 and 45%, respectively, compared with 22 and 40% for winter operations. Analysis of soil disturbance by source revealed skidroads as the major cause of disturbance on ground-skidded cutovers, regardless of season. The primary source of disturbance on cable-yarded areas was yarding in the summer and haul roads in the winter. Ground skidding also caused more deep to very deep disturbance, averaging 30% in winter and 35% in summer compared with 18 and 14% on cable-yarded sites. For both methods deep and very deep disturbance were most common accounting for 75–80% of total disturbance. Extent of soil disturbance and slope steepness were not significantly related. The high variability in soil disturbance noted in this study was similar to other surveys. Most studies have attempted to associate such variation with major environmental factors but with little success. To fully explain soil disturbance, operational factors such as planning and layout of logging must be considered.

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Influence of Irrigation Timing on Disturbance-Induced Reductions in Soil Seedbank Density

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-15-00191.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 613-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian J. Schutte ◽

Nina Klypin ◽

Manoj K. Shukla

Keyword(s):

Soil Disturbance ◽

Palmer Amaranth ◽

Weed Species ◽

Flood Irrigation ◽

Reduction Potentials ◽

Disturbed Soil ◽

Soil Mesocosms ◽

Study Results ◽

Soil Seedbank ◽

Soil Disturbances

Studies suggest that disturbance-induced reductions in soil seedbank density are diminished by periods of water scarcity after soil disturbance; however, this hypothesis has yet to be tested. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of increasing time between soil disturbance and flood irrigation on disturbance-induced reductions in soil seedbank density, and (2) to identify specific soil moisture levels that cause seedbank reductions under flood irrigation. Weed species in this study were junglerice, Palmer amaranth, and yellow foxtail. For Objective 1, artificial seedbanks with known numbers of seeds were disturbed 10, 3, or 0 d prior to flood irrigations under field conditions. For Objective 2, seeds were buried in soil mesocosms that were hydrated to specific soil water potentials (flooded, 0 kPa, −30 kPa, −60 kPa, and −180 kPa) and placed in laboratory conditions favorable for germination. For both objectives, seeds were recovered to determine the percentages of buried seeds that survived the disturbance or moisture treatments. Results for the field study indicated that soil disturbances reduced seedbank persistence of Palmer amaranth but did not affect seedbank persistence of junglerice and yellow foxtail. Disturbance-induced reductions in seedbank density were greatest when soil was disturbed 0 and 3 d prior to flood irrigations. For the laboratory study, results showed that waterlogged soil was not required for seedbank losses because rates of seedbank persistence were greater in saturated soils (0 kPa and flooded) compared to the lower moisture levels. These studies indicate that delays in irrigation can reduce the seedbank reduction potentials of soil disturbance events. Further, irrigation timing effects on disturbed soil seedbanks are likely to occur in all irrigation systems, including those that reduce the amount of water applied compared to flood irrigation.

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Rainfall in the Andean Páramo: New Insights from High-Resolution Monitoring in Southern Ecuador

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/jhm-d-14-0135.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 985-996 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Ryan S. Padrón ◽

Bradford P. Wilcox ◽

Patricio Crespo ◽

Rolando Célleri

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Primary Source ◽

High Elevation ◽

Rain Gauge ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Average Intensity ◽

Rain Gauge Data ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Southern Ecuador ◽

Large Populations

Abstract In mountainous regions, rainfall plays a key role in water supply for millions of people. However, rainfall data for these sites are limited and generally of low quality, making it difficult to evaluate the nature, amount, and timing of rainfall. This is particularly true for the páramo, a high-elevation grassland in the northern Andes that is a primary source of water for large populations in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. In this study, high-resolution laser disdrometer data and standard tipping-bucket rain gauge data were used to improve knowledge of rainfall in the páramo. For 36 months, rainfall was monitored in a high-elevation (3780 m MSL) headwater catchment in southern Ecuador. Average annual rainfall during this period was 1345 mm. Results indicate that (i) when input from very low–intensity events (drizzle) is taken into account, rainfall is 15% higher than previously thought; (ii) rainfall occurs throughout the year (only approximately 12% of the days are dry); (iii) rainfall occurs primarily as drizzle (80% of rainfall duration), which accounts for 29% of total rainfall amount; and (iv) the timing and average intensity of rainfall varies throughout the year (shorter afternoon events are common from October to May, whereas longer night events—with lower intensities—are more frequent from June to September). Although some of these numbers may vary regionally, the results contribute to a better understanding of rainfall in the wet Andean páramo.

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Forest soil disturbance intervals inferred from soil charcoal radiocarbon dates

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x03-185 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 33 (12) ◽

pp. 2514-2518 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Daniel G Gavin

Keyword(s):

Forest Soil ◽

Forest Fires ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Organic Horizon ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

Soil Charcoal ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Soil Disturbances ◽

Tree Uprooting

Forest soil disturbance intervals are usually too long to measure using plot-based studies, and thus they are poorly understood. The mean soil disturbance interval (MSDI) in an old-growth forest on the west coast of Vancouver Island was estimated from radiocarbon dates of charcoal from organic and mineral soil horizons. Two assumptions are required to estimate the MSDI: (1) charcoal from forest fires is deposited within the organic horizon and eventually mixed into deeper mineral horizons by soil disturbances, and (2) the probability of soil disturbance is spatially homogeneous and affected only by the time since the last fire or the last soil disturbance. The MSDI is then estimated by the rate at which the proportion of undisturbed sample sites (determined by the proportion of sites with charcoal from the most recent fire in the organic horizon) decreases with increasing time since the last fire. Soil charcoal evidence of time since fire was determined at 83 sites using 141 radiocarbon dates. The estimated MSDI was greater on slopes (ca. 2010 years) than on terraces (ca. 920 years). The long periods between soil disturbances, especially on slopes, are consistent with other evidence from the study area that suggests infrequent tree uprooting is the predominant mode of soil disturbance.

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The Effect of Yarding Technique on Yarding Productivity and Cost

Croatian journal of forest engineering ◽

10.5552/crojfe.2021.886 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Raffaele Spinelli ◽

Natascia Magagnotti ◽

Giulio Cosola ◽

Eric R. Labelle ◽

Rien Visser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Disturbance ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Controlled Conditions ◽

Cable Yarding ◽

Tree Length ◽

Steep Terrain ◽

Tree Extraction ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Lower Tolerance

Cable yarding is a well establish technology for the extraction of timber in steep terrain. However, it is encumbered with relatively low productivity and high costs, and as such this technology needs to adapt and progress to remain viable. The development of biomass as a valuable byproduct, and the availability of processors to support yarder operations, lend themselves to increasing the level of whole-tree extraction. Double-hitch carriages have been developed to allow for full suspension of whole-tree and tree-length material. This study compared a standard single-hitch to a double-hitch carriage under controlled conditions, namely in the same location using the same yarder with downhill extraction. As expected, the double-hitch carriage took longer to load up (+14%), but was able to achieve similar productivity (10–11 m3 per productive machine hour) through increased inhaul speed (+15%). The importance of this study is that it demonstrates both the physical and economic feasibility of moving to whole-tree extraction using the double-hitch type carriage for longer corridors, for settings with limited deflection, or areas with lower tolerance for soil disturbance.

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Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for determination of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in volatile emissions from soil disturbance

10.21079/11681/42289 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Morgan Conrady ◽

Markus Bauer ◽

Kyoo Jo ◽

Donald Cropek ◽

Ryan Busby

Keyword(s):

Solid Phase Microextraction ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Extraction Temperature ◽

Volatile Chemicals ◽

Desorption Temperature ◽

Peak Areas ◽

Soil Disturbances ◽

Undisturbed Soils

A method is described here for the concentration and determination of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) from the gaseous phase, with translation to field collection and quantification from soil disturbances in situ. The method is based on the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers for adsorption of volatile chemicals from the vapor phase, followed by desorption into a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for analysis. The use of a SPME fiber allows simple introduction to the GC-MS without further sample preparation. Several fiber sorbent types were studied and the 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS was the best performer to maximize the detected peak areas of both analytes combined. Factors such as extraction temperature and time along with desorption temperature and time were explored with respect to analyte recovery. An extraction temperature of 30 ◦C for 10 min, with a desorption temperature of 230 ◦C for 4 min was best for the simultaneous analysis of both geosmin and 2-MIB without complete loss of either one. The developed method was used successfully to measure geosmin and 2-MIB emission from just above disturbed and undisturbed soils, indicating that this method detects both compounds readily from atmospheric samples. Both geosmin and 2-MIB were present as background concentrations in the open air, while disturbed soils emitted much higher concentrations of both compounds. Surprisingly, 2-MIB was always detected at higher concentrations than geosmin, indicating that a focus on its detection may be more useful for soil emission monitoring and more sensitive to low levels of soil disturbance.

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The Effect of Thinning Methods on Soil Physical Properties in North-Central Mississippi

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/11.2.110 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 110-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

B. L. Karr ◽

J. D. Hodges ◽

T. E. Nebeker

Keyword(s):

Sandy Loam ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Silty Clay ◽

Clay Loam ◽

Silty Clay Loam ◽

North Central ◽

Soil Disturbances ◽

Dry Soil

Abstract Soil disturbances created by thinning systems on a fine sandy loam and silty clay loam during wet and dry soil conditions were examined. The extent of areal disturbance, rutting, and bulk density increased and macroporosity decreased as soil moisture and trafficking increased. Schedulingthinning during dry weather and minimizing the crossing of planting beds with equipment reduced soil disturbance. South. J. Appl. For. 11(2):110-112.

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Correlating Genetically Modified Crops, Glyphosate Use and Increased Carbon Sequestration

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132111679 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (21) ◽

pp. 11679

Author(s):

Chelsea Sutherland ◽

Savannah Gleim ◽

Stuart J. Smyth

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Weed Control ◽

Crop Production ◽

Management Practices ◽

Genetically Modified ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Carbon Accounting ◽

Continuous Cropping ◽

Soil Disturbances

In the early 1990s, tillage was the leading form of weed control, with minimum/zero-tillage management practices incapable of long-term continuation. Presently, weed control through tillage has virtually disappeared as cropland management systems have transitioned largely to continuous cropping, with zero to minimal soil disturbance. Research was undertaken to examine what was driving this land management transition. A carbon accounting framework incorporating coefficients derived from the Century Model was used to estimate carbon sequestration in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The results quantify the transition from farmland being a net carbon emitter to being a net carbon sequesterer over the past 30 years. This evidence confirms the correlation between genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant crops and glyphosate use is a driver of the increased soil carbon sequestration. The removal of tillage and adoption of minimal soil disturbances has reduced the amount of carbon released from tillage and increased the sequestration of carbon through continuous crop production. Countries that ban genetically modified crops and are enacting legislation restricting glyphosate use are implementing policies that Canadian farm evidence indicates will not contribute to increasing agricultural sustainability.

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Factors Affecting the Distribution and Abundance of Microlaena Stipoides (Labill.) R.br. On the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj9940026 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 26 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

DB Magcale-Macandog ◽

RDB Whalley

Keyword(s):

Warm Season ◽

High Elevation ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Tree Density ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Site Factors ◽

Pasture Management ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

The North ◽

Microlaena Stipoides

The distribution of Microlaena stipoides on the Northern Tablelands of NSW was examined in a survey of 101 paddocks on 33 properties. Relationships among the abundance of M. stipoides and spatial, climatic, soil and pasture management factors were determined using X2, regression and cluster analyses. Paddocks with more abundant M. stipoides were observed in the eastern and southern parts of the Tablelands where altitude (>750 m) and rainfall (>750 mm) are higher. Higher tree density was associated with more abundant M, stipoides as were native and natural compared with highly improved pastures. Frequent cultivation (regular and intermittent) was associated with absence or very low abundance of M. stipoides. On the other hand, paddocks which had not been cultivated for along time tended to have more M. stipoides than those that had been cultivated in the last five years. Total amount of superphosphate applied, type of grazing animal and grazing method were not associated with the abundance of M. stipoides. Acidic soils had more M, stipoides than soils of higher pH (up to 6.5). Combinations of site factors such as high elevation and rainfall, high tree density, minimum soil disturbance and acidic soil lead to abundant M. stipoides in pastures. Pasture communities in the north and west of the study area had a greater abundance of native warm season perennial grasses and less M. stipoides.

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Soil Disturbance Effects from Tethered Forwarding on Steep Slopes in Brazilian Eucalyptus Plantations

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10090721 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 721 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Austin M. Garren ◽

M. Chad Bolding ◽

W. Michael Aust ◽

Angelo C. Moura ◽

Scott M. Barrett

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Stability Loss ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

Eucalyptus Plantations ◽

Designed Experiment ◽

Cable Yarding ◽

Steep Terrain ◽

Manual Felling ◽

Steep Slopes

Traditional timber harvests on steep slopes have been conducted through labor-intensive and sometimes environmentally impactful methods, such as manual felling with chainsaws and extraction using bladed skid trails, winching, or cable yarding. Ground-based mechanized harvesting and primary transportation methods such as cut-to-length harvesters and forwarders have emerged in some parts of the world as low-impact, safe, and efficient alternatives to the aforementioned systems. However, when mechanized operations are used on steep terrain, problems such as poor stability, loss of traction, and increased soil disturbance can occur. Tethered or winch-assisted logging practices are being tested and applied in several countries to adapt to challenges associated with operating equipment on steep slopes while minimizing environmental impact. To better understand the feasibility of these systems, we conducted a designed experiment to quantify changes in soil properties and predicted erosion resulting from varying numbers of passes and payload levels by a forwarder operating on slopes ranging from 27 to 38 degrees. The machine was equipped with two different track configurations, tethered by either a machine-mounted or self-contained winch, in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. On low slopes, bulk density significantly increased, but it did not increase on steeper slopes; this demonstrates traction winches’ effectiveness at reducing concentrated ground pressures. Rut depths were minimal and decreased with increasing slope classes due to reduced track slippage. Predicted erosion rates were high, primarily due to the extremely steep, long slopes and lack of adequate cover in some portions of the trail, illustrating the importance of proper erosion management practices on steep slopes.

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The impact of reduced tillage and distance to field margin on predator functional diversity

Journal of Insect Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10841-022-00370-x ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Stine K. Jacobsen ◽

Lene Sigsgaard ◽

Anna B. Johansen ◽

Kristian Thorup-Kristensen ◽

Per M. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Ground Beetles ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Activity Density ◽

Soil Disturbances ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Agricultural intensification results in biodiversity loss through land conversion and management practices which negatively impact arthropods. The abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling predators, e.g. ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae), are negatively affected by soil disturbances such as tillage. Reducing soil disturbances can potentially conserve arthropod populations in the field and reduce the use of chemical pest controls. The present study investigated the ground-dwelling predatory community using pitfall traps in cereal fields with three different levels of soil disturbance: conventional tillage, reduced tillage and no tillage under Conservation Agriculture management, in 2018 and 2019. Pitfall traps were placed in transects from the field margins. Overall, the activity-density of ground-dwelling predators was higher in fields with minimum soil disturbance and generally declined with increased distance to semi-natural habitats. Functional diversity, expressed by the body size of ground beetles, was also affected by soil disturbances; large ground beetles more consistently occurred in CA, while few or none of the largest ground beetles were found in RT and CT. A higher sample-heterogeneity in less disturbed fields was indicated by a more variable median and higher skewness in the number of predators in those fields. In 2019 only, species diversity was higher along field edges bordering semi-natural habitats when compared to the cropped area. Our results show that reduced tillage supports predator arthropod communities at a local scale: It also bolsters agro-ecosystem resilience by promoting a higher activity-density and by increasing the heterogeneity and functional diversity of ground-dwelling predators. Implications for insect conservation The results obtained in the present study show that soil disturbances significantly influence arthropod abundance and diversity. Conservation of epigeic natural enemies in the agricultural landscape is improved by reducing soil-disturbing events such as tillage.

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