Variation in Some Soil Properties, Organic Matter and Soil Compaction after Logging Activities

In Turkey, three types of logging methods are widely used in forestoperations; manpower, animal power and mechanical power. In recent years, themost common method involves skidding with farm tractors. In addition, the useof skidding through wire drawing is often applied in the most regions. Theobjective of this study was to determine the effects of logging activities onsoil properties, organic horizon, and soil compaction. Study area was selectedfrom Sarıçam Sub-District Directorate in Kastamonu, Turkey. In the study area,logging activities were carried out by farm tractors and the skidding throughwire drawing at two slope classes (30-60% and 60-100%). Mineral soil samples(0-5, 5-10, 10-15, and 15-20 cm soil depths) were taken from fourmicro-ecological sites; skid road, logging residuals subbase, mineral soilwithout topsoil, and control (no activity). The soil samples were analyzed forsoil pH, soil texture, permeability, bulk density (BD), water holding capacity(WHC), organic matter (OM), skeleton volume (SW) and soil compaction. Resultsshowed that there were significant differences in soil compaction, soiltexture, SW and OM between the four micro-ecological sites. However, thevariation differed according to the soil depths and soil texture. The mineralsoil without topsoil showed the lowest SW, sand and OM, whereas, it had thehighest soil compaction and clay. The deepest soil part had the highest soilcompaction. The results also showed higher dispersion ratios (higher than 15)which indicated higher erosion risk due to high land slope and low permeabilityvalues.