Deformation damages in forest topsoils—An assessment based on Level‐I soil monitoring data from Baden‐Württemberg (SW Germany)

Abstract

Abstract Acidification and eutrophication of soils had been the main activators for the implementation of forest soil monitoring in Central Europe. Thus, field and lab studies focused on gathering information that is essential for the evaluation of the chemical status and its trend. A systematic assessment of soil physical threats caused by machine use in forests has not been integrated yet into the soil‐monitoring systems. In this study, a first approach to get a deeper insight into structure damages of forest topsoils was derived for 302 systematically distributed grid points in the Federal State of Baden‐Württemberg (SW Germany) during the nation‐wide soil survey performed from 2006 to 2008. We derived an approach to assess structure damage based on a key system using field information on structural and hydromorphic topsoil properties. It covers eight satellites surrounding the central monitoring soil pit at each grid point. Our survey focused on the mere stand area excluding visible damage and systematic skid trails. Analysis of structure‐damage intensity and spatial distribution leads to the conclusion that damage caused by vehicle traffic off the skid trails is a wide‐spread phenomena in Baden‐Württemberg forests, where wheeling is not restricted by steepness of terrain. Although regulations to control machine use recommending vehicle traffic to skid trails and fortified roads have been in place since the early 1980s, soil‐structure damages off these trails have reached significant levels. In the future, it will thus be indispensable to put more emphasis on the importance of soil‐protection aims in the ranking of the economic objectives of forest organizations and forest owners.