Soil Physical and Hydrological Changes Associated with Logging a Wet Pine Flat with Wide-Tired Skidders

Abstract

Abstract A wet pine flat in the coastal plain of South Carolina was harvested with a rubber-tired skidder equipped with 68-in.-wide tires. Soil physical properties were measured immediately before and after a salvage harvest to document changes associated with traffic disturbance. Paired t-tests indicate that the wide-tired operation significantly increased soil volumetric water content, bulk density, and soil strength, and decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil porosity, and depth to the water table. Changes were greatest for the more disturbed areas, and rutting that occurred in the skid trails apparently interrupted subsurface drainage. South. J. Appl. For. 17(1):22-25.