Plot-Scale Effects of Ground-Based Skidding on Runoff and Soil Loss in Relation to Slopes and Leaf-On and Leaf-Off Periods in the Mixed Broadleaf Forests

Year 2019, , 83 - 91, 21.12.2019

Meghdad Jourgholami , Saeedeh Jouriz

https://doi.org/10.33904/ejfe.591851

Abstract

Soil compaction and loss of surface
litter from skid trails reduced the water absorption capacity in mineral soils,
which reduced water infiltration and increased runoff, which then caused
surface erosion. We hypothesized that ground-based skidding, different slope
angle classes (0–20% and 20–40%), and forest canopy cover (leaf-on and leaf-off
period) would be significantly effect on runoff and sediment loss. In order to
measure the total runoff and the sediment loss, quadruplicate bounded runoff
plot (2 m²) was established on the skidding and the control sites,
and two different slope angle classes on each site (totally 16 runoff plots
with 20 rainfall events) in the Gorazbon district in Hyrcanian deciduous
forests following Timberjack 450C skidding operations (32 machine passes) over
one-year. The natural rainfalls were measured due to get more useful data. The
skidding and the leaf-on and leaf-off period had statistically significant
effects on runoff and sediments (P < 0.05). There was a statistically
significant difference between runoff and sediment loss in different leaf-on
and leaf-off periods, with leaf-off period having the highest sediment loss,
while the leaf-on period had the least. The slope angle classes and its
interactions had no significant effect on runoff and sediment loss. The highest
runoff of just over 1.6 mm was from a skid trail with a 20–40% slope in the
leaf-off period, and the highest sediment production was 6.95 g in the skid
trail with a 20–40% slope in the leaf-off period. In the Hyrcanian deciduous
forest, fallen leaves (leaf-off period) were coincided with the highest and
most erosive rainfall, which resulted in an increase in runoff and sediment
yield.

Keywords

Skidding, Runoff, Soil loss, Leaf cover period, Sloope angle

Supporting Institution

University of Tehran

Project Number

28514

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