Practices That Damage the Soil

Definitely the most precious resource in any type of agriculture or forestry, the quality and integrity of the soil must be preserved if productivity is to be sustained rotation after rotation.

Skidding A source of damage through the removal of topsoil and organic matter is the type of operation known as skidding.



Skidding operations have the potential to scrape the fibric layer (duff) from the top of the soil, removing a source of nutrients and thermo- and hydro-insulation from the soil. This has been shown to lead to decreased productivity in plantations of other species, including radiata pine and Douglas-fir.

Rutting Rutting is the mechanical disturbance of the soil caused by wheeled vehicles. Pooling can occur due to combined soil compaction (decreasing permeability) and impeded or altered drainage patterns. Rutting is best avoided by maintaining an organic duff horizon on the soil and avoiding operations during the wet months.

Compaction This is one of the most significant sources of decreased productivity in forest stands. It leads to decreased permeability, decreased aeration, and destruction of soil aggregate structure in the top layers. Very pronounced compaction can result in the formation of an impermeable, root-penetration-resistant layer known as a traffic-pan. As with rutting, the best way to avoid compaction in typical alluvial soils is to limit operations requiring heavy machinery during the wettest part of the year.

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