Effects of forest equipment on boreal forest soils: a review

Abstract

Soil disturbance is an important aspect of forest harvesting operations. Machines that are responsible for the harvesting of trees and wood transportation have a direct effect on the soil that they operate on. Some of these machines can weigh dozens of tonnes, making their effect on the soil considerable; the degree of contact with soil also affects soil integrity. On improperly constructed roads and sensitive soils, these machines are a detriment to not just the soil itself, but the plants and wildlife that reside in the soil play dynamic roles cycling nutrients and organic matter and maintaining the ecology in forest ecosystems. Machine effects on boreal soil have been characterized and synthesized using a literature-review based approach, mainly focusing on western Canada and Ontario.