A comparison of rubber-tyred and steel-tracked skidders on forest soil physical properties

Abstract

Compaction of a silty clay loam forest soil was compared for 2 types of log-skidding equipment, a rubber-tyred skidder and a flexible-steel-tracked skidder. Experiments involved the loaded skidders traversing marked laneways at zero, 2, 4, and 10 passes. Compaction was quantified in terms of 3 parameters: (1) bulk density to 25 cm depth measured gravimetrically, (2) penetration resistance using a field penetrometer, and (3) saturated hydraulic conductivity using a field rainfall simulator. Results showed no substantial difference in soil bulk density between the experimental treatments, regardless of skidder type or number passes. Penetration resistance of the traversed laneways was signific..