Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of soil compaction by a forestry machine and slash dispersal on soil N mineralization in Cryptomeria japonica plantations under high precipitation

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of heavy forestry machines for clear-cutting and site preparation causes soil compaction, which can decrease forest productivity. This process becomes complicated in forests with high levels of precipitation due to the erosion and deposition of surface soil. Here, we investigated how soil compaction and slash dispersal on compacted soil affect soil nitrogen (N) mineralization in a high precipitation area with erodible volcanic soil in southern Japan. The physical and chemical properties of the soil were measured inside and outside the ruts of work roads in the presence and absence of dispersed slash in three Cryptomeria japonica plantations 9–10 months after clear-cutting and site preparation. We found that the soil N mineralization rate, particularly the soil nitrification rate, was lower in compacted soil, but the dispersal of slash after soil compaction enhanced the soil N mineralization and nitrification rates. Soil compaction also led to a low soil water permeability and high volumetric soil water content and was associated with the erosion and deposition of surface soil, with soil deposition including organic matter, being observed under dispersed slash. Additionally, the soil carbon (C) and N concentrations were lower in compacted soil but improved under dispersed slash. Principal component analysis showed that soil compaction and the soil C and N concentrations were closely related to each other on the first principal component (PC1), while the soil C/N ratio was separated from other factors on PC2. Furthermore, the scores of both PC1 and PC2 were related to soil N mineralization. These results suggest that soil compaction by forestry machines has a negative impact on soil N mineralization under high precipitation, but slash dispersal on the compacted soil is an effective approach for maintaining the soil N mineralization. The soil C/N ratio is likely related with N mineralization in the impacted soils, but the negative relationship between soil compaction and soil C and N concentrations through the movement of surface soil containing these elements should also be considered to fully understand the changes in soil N mineralization that occurs in forests under high precipitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achat DL, Deleuze C, Landmann G, Pousse N, Ranger J, Augusto L (2015) Quantifying consequences of removing harvesting residues on forest soils and tree growth – a meta-analysis. For Ecol Manage 348:124–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Allman M, Jankovský M, Messingerová V, Allmanová Z, Ferenčík M (2015) Soil compaction of various Central European forest soils caused by traffic of forestry machines with various chassis. For Syst 24:e038

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampoorter E, Goris R, Cornelis WM, Verheyen K (2007) Impact of mechanized logging on compaction status of sandy forest soils. For Ecol Manage 241:162–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampoorter E, de Schrijver A, van Nevel L, Hermy M, Verheyen K (2012) Impact of mechanized harvesting on compaction of sandy and clayey forest soils: results of a meta-analysis. Ann For Sci 69:533–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Arimitsu K (1972) Forest soil. In: Committee of Measurement Methods for Soil Physical Property (ed) Measurement methods for soil physical property. Yokendo, Tokyo, pp 465–477 (in Japanese)

  • Ashihara S, Inokura Y (2018) Meteorological observation in the Takakuma Experimental Forest, Kagoshima University (2014–2016). Bull Kagoshima Univ For 43:73–122 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Belleau A, Brais S, Pare D (2006) Soil nutrient dynamics after harvesting and slash treatments in boreal aspen stands. Soil Sci Soc Am J 70:1189–1199

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berg B, McClaugherty C (1989) Nitrogen and phosphorus release from decomposing litter in relation to the disappearance of lignin. Can J Bot 67:1148–1156

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blumfield TJ, Xua ZH, Chen C (2005) Mineral nitrogen dynamics following soil compaction and cultivation during hoop pine plantation establishment. For Ecol Manage 204:129–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth MS, Stark JM, Rastetter E (2005) Controls on nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems: a synthetic analysis of literature data. Ecol Monogr 75:139–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Breland TA, Hansen S (1996) Nitrogen mineralization and microbial biomass as affected by soil compaction. Soil Biol Biochem 28:655–663

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cambi M, Certini G, Neri F, Marchi E (2015) The impact of heavy traffic on forest soils: a review. For Ecol Manag 338:124–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland CC, Neff JC, Townsend AR, Hood E (2004) Composition, dynamics, and fate of leached dissolved organic matter in terrestrial ecosystems: results from a decomposition experiment. Ecosystems 7:275–285

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conlin TSS, van den Driessche R (1996) Short-term effects of soil compaction on growth of Pinus contorta seedlings. Can J For Res 26:727–739

    Google Scholar 

  • Core Team R (2018) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • De Neve S, Hofman G (2000) Influence of soil compaction on carbon and nitrogen mineralization of soil organic matter and crop residues. Biol Fertil Soils 30:544–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinis C, Surový P, Ribeiro N, Oliveira MRG (2015) The effect of soil compaction at different depths on cork oak seedling growth. New For 46:235–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorel M, Roger-Estrade J, Manichon H, Delvaux B (2000) Porosity and soil water properties of Caribbean volcanic ash soils. Soil Use Manag 16:133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Edeso JM, Merino A, González MJ, Marauri P (1999) Soil erosion under different harvesting managements in steep forestlands from northern Spain. Land Degrad Develop 10:79–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Egnell G (2016) Effects of slash and stump harvesting after final felling on stand and site productivity in Scots pine and Norway spruce. For Ecol Manag 371:42–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Forest Soil Division (1976) Classification of forest soils in Japan (1975). Bull Gov For Exp Stn 280:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox TR (2000) Sustained productivity in intensively managed forest plantations. For Ecol Manag 138:187–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey B, Kremer J, Rüdt A, Sciacca S, Matthies D, Lüscher P (2009) Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machinery affects soil bacterial community structure. Eur J Soil Biol 45:312–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Goutal N, Renault P, Ranger J (2013) Forwarder traffic impacted over at least four years soil air composition of two forest soils in northeast France. Geoderma 193–194:29–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Greacen EL, Sands R (1980) Compaction of forest soils. A review. Aust J Soil Res 18:163–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Haibara K, Aiba Y (1984) Movement of inorganic nitrogen in forest soil and CO2 evolution from soil by mixture of organic matters. J Jpn For Soc 66:36–39 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirai K, Noguchi K, Yamanaka T, Kaneko S, Takahashi M (2011) Nitrogen supply from decomposing green needle after non-commercial thinning at a sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) stand. Jpn J For Environ 53:17–22 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Horn R, Vossbrink PS, Becker S (2007) Impact of modern forest vehicles on soil physical properties. For Ecol Manag 248:56–63

    Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working group WRB (2015) World reference base for soil resources 2014 (Update 2015), International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. FAO, Rome

  • Jackson RB, Canadell J, Ehleringer JR, Mooney HA, Sala OE, Schulze ED (1996) A global analysis of root distributions for terrestrial biomes. Oecologia 108:389–411

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings TN, Smith JE, Cromack K Jr, Sulzman EW, McKay D, Caldwell BA, Beldin SI (2012) Impact of postfire logging on soil bacterial and fungal communities and soil biogeochemistry in a mixed-conifer forest in central Oregon. Plant Soil 350:393–411

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen LS, McQueen DJ, Shepherd TG (1996a) Effects of soil compaction on N-mineralization and microbial-C and –N. I. Field measurements. Soil Till Res 38:175–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen LS, McQueen DJ, Ross DJ, Tate KR (1996b) Effects of soil compaction of N-mineralization and microbial-C and -N. II. Laboratory simulation. Soil Till Res 38:189–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Jitousono T, Shimokawa E, Nomoto T (1985) Hydrological observations in the forested basins, covered with volcaniclastic materials in the Takakuma experimental forest. I. Environmental investigations and runoff phenomena in the No. 1 Takakuma experimental basin. Res Bull Kagoshima Univ For 14:33–50 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones HS, Beets PN, Kimberley MO, Garrett LG (2011) Harvest residue management and fertilisation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in a 15-year-old Pinus radiata plantation forest. For Ecol Manag 262:339–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourgholami M, Fathi K, Labelle ER (2019) Effects of litter and straw mulch amendments on compacted soil properties and Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata) growth. New For (Online First). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-019-09738-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jurgensen MF, Harvey AE, Graham RT, Page-Dumroese DS, Tonn JR, Larsen MJ, Jain TB (1997) Impacts of timber harvesting on soil organic matter, nitrogen, productivity, and health of inland northwest forests. For Sci 43:234–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamewada K (1997a) Soil pH. In: The Editorial Committee of Soil Environment Analytical Methods (ed) Soil environment analytical methods. Hakuyu-sha, Tokyo, pp 195–197 (in Japanese)

  • Kamewada K (1997b) Soil EC. In: The Editorial Committee of Soil Environment Analytical Methods (ed) Soil environment analytical methods. Hakuyu-sha, Tokyo, pp 202–204 (in Japanese)

  • Kawada H (1989) Outline of forest soil. Hakuyusha, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiikkila O, Kitunen V, Spetz P, Smolander A (2012) Characterization of dissolved organic matter in decomposing Norway spruce and silver birch litter. Eur J Soil Sci 63:476–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski TT (1999) Soil compaction and growth of woody plants. Scand J For Res 14:596–619

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumakura Y, Tasaka T, Sakai H (1994) The influence of forest machines on soil compaction in logging operation. J Jpn For Eng Assoc 9:41–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuroiwa M, Koba K, Isobe K, Tateno R, Nakanishi A, Inagaki Y, Toda H, Otsuka S, Senoo K, Suwa Y, Yoh M, Shibata H (2011) Gross nitrification rates in four Japanese forest soils: heterotrophic versus autotrophic and the regulation factors for the nitrification. J For Res 16:363–373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Lee Allen H, Wilson CA (2003) Nitrogen mineralization dynamics following the establishment of a loblolly pine plantation. Can J For Res 33:364–374

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma W, Li Z, Ding K, Huang B, Nie X, Lu Y, Xiao H (2016) Soil erosion, organic carbon and nitrogen dynamics in planted forests: a case study in a hilly catchment of Hunan Province, China. Soil Till Res 155:9–77

    Google Scholar 

  • McClaugherty CA (1983) Soluble polyphenols and carbohydrates in throughfall and leaf litter decomposition. Acta Oecol 4:375–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouro G, Perez-Batallon P, Merino A (2001) Effects of sylvicultural practices on nutrient status in a Pinus radiata plantation: nutrient export by tree removal and nutrient dynamics in decomposing logging residues. Ann For Sci 58:411–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Powers RF (1999) On the sustainable productivity of planted forests. New For 17:263–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Grigal DF, Aber JD, Gower ST (1997) Nitrogen mineralization and productivity in 50 hardwood and conifer stands on diverse soils. Ecology 78:335–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Reicosky DC, Voorhees WB, Radke JK (1981) Unsaturated water flow through a simulated wheel track. Soil Sci Soc Am J 45:3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Römkens MJM, Helming K, Prasad SN (2001) Soil erosion under different rainfall intensities, surface roughness, and soil water regimes. CATENA 46:103–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez FG, Scott DA, Ludovici KH (2006) Negligible effects of severe organic matter removal and soil compaction on loblolly pine growth over 10 years. For Ecol Manag 227:145–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarapatka B, Cap L, Bila P (2018) The varying effect of water erosion on chemical and biochemical soil properties in different parts of Chernozem slopes. Geoderma 314:20–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato H (2006) Effective forest management to reduce fine sediment production and delivery. J Jpn For Soc 88:50–59 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibata H, Urakawa R, Toda H, Inagaki Y, Tateno R, Koba K, Nakanishi A, Fukuzawa K, Yamasaki A (2011) Changes in nitrogen transformation in forest soil representing the climate gradient of the Japanese archipelago. J For Res 16:374–385

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shinagawa A, Umata H, Miyauchi N, Nagatomo Y (1996) Cumulic volcanic ash soil profile mainly originated from volcano Sakurajima’s ejecta at Hikari-ishi, Tarumizu City. Res Bull Kagoshima Univ For 24:1–57 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacy EM, Hart SC, Hunsaker CT, Johnson DW, Berhe AA (2015) Soil carbon and nitrogen erosion in forested catchments: implications for erosion-induced terrestrial carbon sequestration. Biogeosciences 12:4861–4874

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Ikeda S (1994) Effects of clearfelling on the mineral nitrogen dynamics in the surface soil of a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantation—A comparison between slash-removal and slash-scattering treatments. J Jpn For Soc 76:224–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan X, Chang SX (2007) Soil compaction and forest litter amendment affect carbon and net nitrogen mineralization in a boreal forest soil. Soil Till Res 93:77–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan X, Chang SX, Kabzems R (2005) Effects of soil compaction and forest floor removal on soil microbial properties and N transformations in a boreal forest long-term soil productivity study. For Ecol Manag 217:158–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Tateno R, Takeda H (2003) Forest structure and tree species distribution in relation to topography-mediated heterogeneity of soil nitrogen and light at the forest floor. Ecol Res 18:559–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Tateno R, Suzuki Y, Hamada T, Hidaka K (2010) Effects of slope position on soil nitrogen mineralization in Cryptomeria japonica plantations in southern Kyushu, Japan. Res Bull Kagoshima Univ For 37:129–136 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiffault E, Hannam KD, Paré D, Titus BD, Hazlett PW, Maynard DG, Brais S (2011) Effects of forest biomass harvesting on soil productivity in boreal and temperate forests—A review. Environ Rev 19:278–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Toda H, Haibara K (1994) Kinetics of mineralization of nitrogen in forest soil (I). Characteristics of soil nitrogen mineralization of different aged stands, slope positions, and soil depths. J Jpn For Soc 76:144–151 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Urakawa R, Ohte N, Shibata H, Isobe K, Tateno R, Oda T, Hishi T, Fukushima K, Inagaki Y, Hirai K, Oyanagi N, Nakata M, Toda H, Kenta T, Kuroiwa K, Watanabe T, Fukuzawa K, Tokuchi N, Ugawa S, Enoki T, Nakanishi A, Saigusa N, Yamao Y, Kotani A (2016) Factors contributing to soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates of forest soils in the Japanese archipelago. For Ecol Manag 361:382–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Chapin FS III (2001) Substrate limitations to microbial activity in taiga forest floors. Soil Biol Biochem 22:173–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Howarth RW (1991) Nitrogen limitation on land and in the sea: how can it occur? Biogeochemistry 13:87–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Andariese SW, Matson PA, Morris L, Sanford RL (1992) Effects of harvest intensity, site preparation, and herbicide use on soil nitrogen transformations in a young loblolly pine plantation. For Ecol Manage 49:277–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamasaki A, Tateno R, Shibata H (2011) Effects of carbon and nitrogen amendment on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization in volcanic immature soil in southern Kyushu, Japan. J For Res 16:414–423

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Quine TA, Ni S, Ge F (2006) Stocks and dynamics of SOC in relation to soil redistribution by water and tillage erosion. Glob Change Biol 12:1834–1841

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the members of the Silviculture Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagoshima University for helping with this research. We thank the staff of the Takakuma University Forest of Kagoshima University for permission to conduct our study in this study site. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 26292085, 16H04937, and 18H02241.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Shin Ugawa

  2. Shikoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Asakuranishi 2-915, Kochi, 780-8077, Japan

    Yoshiyuki Inagaki

  3. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, N9 W9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0809, Japan

    Fukuzawa Karibu

  4. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Ryunosuke Tateno

Authors
  1. Shin Ugawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yoshiyuki Inagaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fukuzawa Karibu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ryunosuke Tateno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shin Ugawa.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 4.

Table 4 Amount of inorganic nitrogen (N) in the pre-incubated soil and other chemical properties of soil samples obtained from outside a work road without dispersed slash (C) and with dispersed slash (CS), in the rut of a work road without dispersed slash (R) and with dispersed slash (RS), and in the center of a work road without dispersed slash (RC). Values are means ± standard errors
Full size table

Appendix 2

Table 5.

Table 5 Mean values of physical and chemical properties of soil samples obtained from outside a work road without dispersed slash (C) and with dispersed slash (CS), in the rut of a work road without dispersed slash (R) and with dispersed slash (RS), and in the center of a work road without dispersed slash (RC) in each stand
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ugawa, S., Inagaki, Y., Karibu, F. et al. Effects of soil compaction by a forestry machine and slash dispersal on soil N mineralization in Cryptomeria japonica plantations under high precipitation. New Forests 51, 887–907 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-019-09768-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-019-09768-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation