engleski

Evaluation of Forwarder Multipassing on Soil Compaction

In Croatia forwarders are the most common machines for wood extraction from shelterwood fellings. Due to their large mass and large load mass as well as due to increased soil moisture in winter–spring period, forwarders can cause great soil disturbance. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of forwarder multipassing on soil compaction in forwarder ruts, after preparatory felling in a penduculate oak (Quercus robur L.) lowland stand. The research was conducted in favorable soil conditions that can be classified as (very)strong soil by EcoWood classification. The evaluation of soil strength is based on three soil strength parameters: cone index measured by cone penetrometer, and shear strength measured by shear vane at two depths (on the surface and at 15 cm depth). The amount of transported wood (forwarder mass) was measured with portable scales. The highest coefficient of variation, as indicator of dispersion, is shown by measuring shear strength on soil surface, and then by measuring cone index, while the lowest coefficient of variation is shown by measuring shear strength at the depth of 15 cm. Research results show (no) statistically significant differences among forwarder multipassing on soil compaction.

Forwarder; forwarder multipassing; soil compaction; soil strength; coefficient of variation.

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