Soil disturbance effects on Pinus radiata growth during the first 11 years

Authors: G. Murphy, J. G. Firth, M. F. Skinner
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1997, Issue N.Z.J.For. 42(3) 1997, pp 27-30, Nov 1997
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: The effect of soil disturbance (forest litter removal, topsoil removal and compaction) on the productivity of second-rotation Pinus radiata growing on a clay loam soil was assessed in a long-term trial. Relative to the controls, tree volumes at age 11 years were reduced by about 20% where litter had been removed by machine, about 55% where the topsoil had been removed and subsoil compacted with two passes of a loader, and about 65% where the topsoil had been removed and the subsoil compacted with eight passes of a loader. Long-term indications are that although relative growth differences between trees in treated and untreated plots are decreasing with time, negative effects of topsoil removal combined with compaction of subsoil are likely to be apparent when the trees are due to be harvested.
Keywords: soil compaction, litter removal, soil removal, site productivity, tree growth.

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