Science in Practice Portal

Soil compaction and its effect on timber production is of increasing importance to forest land resource managers in view of national timber needs and environmental concerns. Managers need answers to questions relating to soil compaction influences on wood growth and the effects that timing and types of timber harvest methods have upon the soils so that long term productivity losses can be minimized. Because only limited research information is available to guide decision makers, four field studies were made on past cutover areas in the Salem District to determine impacts that compaction has on timber production and the effects that different treatments have upon soil bulk density.