Southern Research Station

Title: Timber Harvesting Effects on Spatial Variability of Southeastern U.S. Piedmont Soil Properties

Author: Shaw, J.N.; Carter, Emily A.

Date: 2002

Source: Soil Science 2002;167:288-302

Description: Site-specific forestry requires detailed characterization of the spatial distribution of forest soil properties and the magnitude of harvesting impacts in order to prescribe appropriate management schemes. Furthermore, evaluation of the effects of timber harvesting on soil properties conducted on a landscape scale improves the interpretive value of soil survey data. Questions exist regarding the extent and spatial distribution of the effects of timber harvesting on eroded soils of the Alabama Piedmont. We evaluated the impacts of clear-cut harvesting on the temporal and spatial variability of bulk density (p,), soil strength, and water content (O_g) at three sites in the Alabama Piedmont where timber was predominantly mature plantation stands of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Preharvest spatial variability of texture, surface horizon thickness, and soil organic carbon (SOC) within single soi: mapping delineations was also evaluated. Soils were moderately to severely eroded aud classified in fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic and Rhcdic Kanhapludult and Kandiudult families. Although significant increases (P < 0.05) in p_b, were observed after timber harvesting for some of the trafficking class-depth interval combinations at all sites, the largest increases were observed at the moderately eroded site. Harvesting timber increased soil strength by 25.1% on the moderately eroded site, with increases occurring to a 40-cm depth in skid trails. Results suggested the degree of harvesting impacts were eroion phase dependent, with greater impacts on moderately versus severely eroded soils. Geostatistical analyses indicated that pre-harvest clay and surface thickness were more highly spatially correlated than preharvest SOC, which may be related to erosion processes. Analyses also suggested harvesting slightly increased the overall spatial variablity of p_b, soil strength, and O_g. These results suggest that the establishment of site-specific forest tillage zones to ameliorate compaction may be impractical to implement because of the increases in spatial variability of these properties.

Keywords: Geostatistics, Piedmont, timber harvesting, Ultisols, soil survey

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Citation

Shaw, J.N.; Carter, Emily A.  2002.  Timber Harvesting Effects on Spatial Variability of Southeastern U.S. Piedmont Soil Properties.   Soil Science 2002;167:288-302