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Journal of Environmental BiologypISSN: 0254-8704 ; eISSN: 2394-0379 ; CODEN: JEBIDP |
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Abstract - Issue Jul 2010, 31 (4) BackImpacts of repeated timber skidding on the chemical
properties of topsoil, herbaceous cover and forest floor in an eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stand 1Department of Forest Construction and Transportation, Faculty of
Forestry, Bahcekoy, Sariyer- 34473, 2Department of Soil Science and Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, Bahcekoy, Sariyer- 34473, 3Research Institute for Forest Soil and Ecology, 4Department of Forest Yield and Biometry, Faculty of Forestry, Bahcekoy, Sariyer-
34473, (Received: Abstract: In this study, long-term timber
skidding effects on herbaceous understory, forest
floor and soil were investigated on a skid road in a stand of the eastern beech
(Fagus orientalis Lipsky). For this purpose, herbaceous understory,
forest floor and soil samples were collected from the skid road and from an
undisturbed area used as a control plot. The mass (kg ha-1) of
herbaceous and forest floor samples was determined, and soil characteristics were
examined at two depths (0-5 cm and 5-10 cm). We quantified sand, silt and clay
content, as well as bulk density, compaction, pH, and organic carbon content in
soil samples. The quantities of N, K, P, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn,
Zn and Cu were determined in all herbaceous cover, forest floor and soil
samples. The quantities of Na, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in
herbaceous understory samples from the skid road were
considerably higher than those in the undisturbed area, while the quantity of
Mg was considerably lower. These differences could have been caused by
decreased herbaceous cover in addition to variations in the properties of the
forest floor and soil after skidding. A lower amount of forest floor on the
skid road was the result of skidding and harvesting activities. Mg and Zn
contents in forest floor samples were found to be considerably lower for the
skid road than for the undisturbed area. No significant differences were found
in soil chemical properties (quantities of N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) at the 0-5 cm soil depth. Important differences exist
between soil quantities of Mg at a 5-10 cm depth on the skid road and in
undisturbed areas. Both 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm soil depths, the average penetrometer resistance values for the skid road was higher
than for the undisturbed area. This result shows that the compaction caused by
skidding is maintained to depth of 10 cm. Skid road soil showed higher bulk
density values than undisturbed areas because of compaction. Key
words: Harvesting, Skidding,
Soil, Forest floor, Herbaceous understory ???????? PDF of full length paper
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