Comparison of the effect of winch-assisted timber harvesting systems and cable yarding on soil water retention and surface runoff in a temperate deciduous forest

15 S.

Artikel aus einer Zeitschrift

200212698

Timber harvesting, especially when involving heavy machinery, significantly affects forest soil properties, including soil water retention and surface runoff. This study investigates the impacts of different timber harvesting systems (tracked harvester and forwarder (H+), non-tracked harvester and forwarder with tracks on uphill axles (H-), and cable yarding (MC)) on surface runoff and soil hydraulic properties in a temperate hardwood forest. We conducted rainfall simulation experiments (50 m2 irrigation plots) before and after timber harvesting at a beech-dominated (Fagus sylvatica L.) site in the Vienna Woods, Austria, to measure changes in surface runoff. Additionally, soil samples were collected after irrigation experiments to assess bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), and water retention characteristics.
Keywords: Timber harvesting, Surface runoff, Water retention, Saturated hydraulic conductivity, Bulk density, Vienna Woods, Skid trail