Timothy P. McDonald
USDA Forest Service, Auburn, Alabama, USA
Fernando Sexias
ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Abstract
A study of the effect of slash on forwarder soil compaction was carried out. The level of soil compaction at two soil moisture contents, three slash densities (0, 10, and 20 kg/m2 ), and two levels of traffic (one and five passes) were measured. Results indicated that, on dry, loamy sand soils, the presence of slash did not decrease soil compaction after one forwarder pass, but did provide some protection from subsequent passes. The density of slash (over 10 kg/m2 ) did not affect compaction. On the same soils in a wetter condition, however, slash density at 20 kg/m2 was significantly less than on bare plots. At 10 kg/m2 , the increase in bulk density after five passes was smaller than on the bare plots, but not significantly so.
