This study was conducted to identify and quantify changes to soil microstructure and solution chemistry in order to understand the long-term effects of machinery-induced compaction on the soil. The study area near Log Lake, northeast of Prince George, BC, is one of three installations in the Sub-boreal Spruce Zone of the Long-Term Productivity Study of BC Ministry of Forests and Range. Selected plots representing major treatment combinations from the foregoing experiments were used for the current study. Soil thin sections from undisturbed (control) and compacted soils were prepared to study soil microstructure. Soil solution was extracted from field-moist samples using the immiscible displacement-centrifugation technique. Results showed that compaction reorganized soil substances and changed soil pore space characteristics. Porous types of soil microfabrics (granic, granoidic, plectic) that are common in control (uncompacted) soils, are replaced by dense types of soil microfabrics (such as banded or porphyric fabrics) in compacted soils. The microscopic porosity in compacted soils appeared lower than in control samples. Compaction decreased soil macroporosity and reduced the connectivity of soilpores as well. Void types that have less connectivity, such as vughs and planar voids, are increased in compacted soils, likely at the expense of voids that have -better -connectivity (compound packing voids). An increase in proportion of isolated vughs relative to overall soil microscopic pore space was also observed. This is probably related to formation of “relict” macropores, resulting from soil compaction. The decrease in soil microscopic pore space and pore connectivity might have restricted nutrient movement or enhanced precipitation of organic salts. Soil solution chemistry investigation revealed a decrease in Ca and K in soil solution to such a degree that might be sufficient to curtail vigorous plant growth.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aguilar J, ernandez J, Ortega E, de Haro R, Rodriguez T (1990) Micromorphological characteristics of soils producing olives under nonploughing compared with traditional tillage methods, In: Douglas LA (ed.) Soil Micromorphology: A Basic and Applied Science, Development in Soil Sci. 19. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Arocena JM (2000) Cations in solution from forest soils subjected to forest floor removal and compaction treatments. For Ecol Manage 133:71–80
Arocena JM, Sanborn P (1999) Mineralogy and genesis of selected soils and their implications for forest management in central and northeastern British Columbia. Can J Soil Sci 79:571–592
Assouline S, Tavares-Filho J, Tessier D (1997) Effect of compaction on soil physical and hydraulic properties: Experimental results and modeling. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:390–398
Bouwman LA, Arts WBM (2000) Effects of soil compaction on the relationships between nematodes, grass production and soil physical properties. Appl Soil Ecol 14: 213–222
Barber SA (1984) Soil nutrient bio-availability: a mechanistic approach. John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York
Brady NC, Weil RR (1996) The nature and properties of soils. 11th ed. Prentice-Hall Inc., NewYork
Brais S, Camiré C, Paré D (1995) Impacts of whole-tree harvesting and winter windrowing on soil pH and base status of clayey sites of northwestern Quebec. Can J For Res 25:997–1007
Bresson LM, Zambaux C (1990) Micromorphological study of compaction induced by mechanical stress for a Dystrochreptic Fragiudalf. In: Douglas LA (ed.) Soil Micromorphology: A Basic and Applied Science, Development in Soil Sci. 19. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Brewer R (1976) Fabric and mineral analysis of soils. 2nd ed. R.E. Krieger Publishing Co., -Huntington, New York
Brewer R, Pawluk S (1975) Investigation of some soils developed in hummocks of the Canadian sub-Arctic and southern Arctic regions. I. Morphology and micromorphology. Can J Soil Sci 55:301–319
Bruand A, Cousin I, LeLay C (1997) Formation of relict macropores in clay-loamy soil by wheel compaction. In: Shoba S, Gerasimova M, Miedema R (eds.), Soil Micromorphology: Studies on Soil Diversity, Diagnostics and Dynamics. Van Gils B.V., Wageningen
Bullock P, Fedoroff N, Jongerius N, Stoops G, vTursina T (1985) Handbook for soil thin section descriptions. Waine Research Publications, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, UK
Busse MD, Cochran PH, Barrett JW (1996) Changes in ponderosa pine site productivity following removal of understory vegetation. Soil Sci Soc Am J 60:1614–1621
Carr WW (1987a) The effect of landing construction on some forest soil properties. A case study. FRDA Report no. 003. Govt. of Canada and British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lands
Carr WW (1987b) Restoring productivity on degraded forest soils: Two case studies. FRDA Report no. 002. Govt. of Canada and British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lands
Corns IGW (1988) Compaction by forestry equipment and effects on coniferous seedling growth o-n four soils in the Alberta foothills. Can J For Res 18:75–84
Crawford JW, Matsui N, Young IM (1995) The relation between the moisture-release curve and the structure of soil. Eur J Soil Sci 46:369–375
Cronan CS, Grigal DF (1995) Use of calcium/aluminum ratios as indicators of stress in forest ecosystems. J Environ Qual 24:209–226
Danielson RE, Sutherland PL (1986) Porosity, In: Klute A (ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis, Part I, Physical and Mineral Methods. 2nd ed. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI
Greacan EL, Sands R (1980) Compaction of forest soils. A review. Aust J Soil Res 18:163–189
Holcomb RW (1996) The long-term soil productivity study in British Columbia. FRDA report, ISSN 0835–0752; 256
Huang J, Lacey ST, Ryan PJ (1996) Impact of forest harvesting on the hydraulic properties of surface soil. Soil Sci 161:79–86
Ishaq M, Ibrahim A, Hassan M, Saeed M, Lal R (2001) Subsoil compaction effects on crops in Punjab, Pakistan: II. Root growth and nutrient uptake of wheat and sorghum. Soil Till Res 60:153–161
Johnson CE, Johnson AH, Huntington TG, Siccama TG (1991) Whole-tree clear-cutting effects on exchangeable cations and soil acidity. Soil Sci Soc Am J 55:502–508.
Kooistra MJ, Tovey NK (1994) Effects of compaction on soil microstructure. In: Soane BD, van Oowerberk C (eds.) Soil Compaction in Crop Production. Elsevier Sci., BV. Amsterdam
Kranabetter JM, Sanborn P, Chapman BK, Dube S (2006) The contrasting response to soil disturbance between lodgepole pine and hybrid white spruce in sub-boreal forests. Soil Sci Soc Amer J 70:1591–1599
Li Q, Allen HL, Wollum AG (2004) Microbial biomass and bacterial functional diversity in forest soils: effects of organic matter removal, compaction, and vegetation control. Soil Biol Biochem 36: 571–579
Lipiec J, Hatano R (2003) Quantification of compaction effects on soil physical properties and crop growth. Geoderma 116:107–136
Lipiec J, Stepniewski W (1995) Effects of soil compaction and tillage systems on uptake and losses of nutrients. Soil Till Res 35:37–52
Livingston SJ, Norton LD, West LT (1990) Effects of long-term cultivation on aggregate stability, organic carbon distribution, and porosity of two soil series. In: Douglas LA (ed.) Soil Micromorphology: A Basic and Applied Science, Development in Soil Sci. 19. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Mo J, Brown S, Lenart, M (1995) Nutrient dynamics of a human-impacted pine forest in a MAB reserve of subtropical China. Biotropica 27:290–304
Powers RF (2006) Long-term soil productivity: genesis of the concept and principles behind the program. Can J For Res 36:519–528
Powers RF, Alban DH, Miller RE, Tiarks AE, Wells CG, Avers PE, Cline RG, Loftus NS Jr, Fitzgerald RO. (1990). Sustaining productivity in North American forests: problems and prospects. In: Gessel SP, Lacate DS, Weetman GF, Powers RF (eds.). Proceedings of the seventh North American forest soils conference Vancouver, British Columbia
Rab MA (2004) Recovery of soil physical properties from compaction and soil profile disturbance caused by logging of native forest in Victorian Central Highlands, Australia. For Ecol Manage 191:329–340
Soil Classification Working Group (1998) The Canadian system of soil classification. Agric. And Agri-Food Can. Publ. 1646 (revised), National Research Council Canada, Ottawa
Soil Survey Staff (1999) Soil Taxonomy a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. USDA Agric. Handbook 436, 2nd ed., US Govt. Printing Press, Washington DC, USA
Trowbridge R, Kranabetter M, Macadam A, Battigelli J, Berch S, Chapman W, Kabzems R, Osberg M, Sanborn P (1996) The effects of soil compaction and organic matter retention on long-term soil productivity in British Columbia. Establishment Report, Experimental Project No. 1148. BC Ministry of Forest, Victoria, March 1996
Tuttle CL, Golden MS, Meldahl RS (1985) Soil surface removal and herbicide treatment: effects on soil properties and loblolly pine early growth. Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:1558–1562
Van Cleve K, Dryness CT (1983) Effects of forest-floor disturbance on soil-solution nutrient composition in black spruce ecosystem. Can J For Res 13:894–902
Wolt J (1994) Soil solution chemistry: Applications to environmental science and agriculture. John Wiley and Sons, New York
Worrell R, Hampson A (1997) The influence of some forest operations on the sustainable management of forest soils-a review. Forestry 70:61–85
Yao L, Wilding LP (1994) Micromorphological study of compacted mine soil in east Texas. In: Ringrose-Voase AJ, Humphreys GS (eds.) Soil Micromorphology: Studies in Management and Genesis. Development In Soil Sci 22. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Zabowski D, Rygiewicz PT, Skinner MF (1996) Site disturbance on clay soil under a radiata pine. Plant and Soil 186:343–351
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Arocena, J.M., Chen, Z., Sanborn, P. (2008). Soil Microstructure and Solution Chemistry of a Compacted Forest Soil in a Sub-Boreal Spruce Zone in Canada. In: Kapur, S., Mermut, A., Stoops, G. (eds) New Trends in Soil Micromorphology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79134-8_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79134-8_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-79133-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-79134-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)