Responses of surface hydrology and early loblolly pine growth to soil disturbance and site preparation in a lower coastal plain wetland

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Abstract

The effects of surface soil disturbances induced by traffic during timber harvest on surface hydrology and early pine growth were assessed after harvesting of three 19-ha, 22-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in an Atlantic coastal wetland in the south-eastern United States. This study follows previous research on surface soil disturbances caused by harvesting under dry-weather and wet-weather conditions in order to address two basic questions: (i) to what extent does the extensive surface soil disturbance on wet-weather harvested sites affect 2overall surface water dynamics and tree growth, and (ii) can these harvest-induced soil disturbances be mitigated through site preparation with respect to hydrologic recovery and site productivity. Overall surface hydrology and tree responses to the two harvest treatments and three site preparation levels (no preparation, bedding, or mole-ploughing + bedding) were evaluated by monitoring the water table dynamics and tree growth on a 20 x 20-m grid across the sites. The study showed that surface soil disturbances affect hydroperiod, by showing a large difference in water table elevation during the growing season between the wet-weather harvested and the dry-weather harvested sites. Bedding lowered overall surface water table initially to a large extent, but this effect decreased rapidly during the first 2 years after stand establishment. No significant differences in tree growth at age 2 were found among undisturbed, compressed, and shallow-rutted areas within non-bedded, bedded, and mole-ploughed+bedded sites. Surface deformation such as deep rutting or churning, appeared to promote tree growth on the flat-planted sites, yet showed a negative effect on early tree growth on the bedded sites. At a stand level, above-ground biomass production at this young age was little affected by surface soil disturbances.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

First Page

250

Last Page

265

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