PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Allan E. Tiarks
TI  - Growth of slash pine planted in soil disturbed by wet-weather logging
DP  - 1990 May 01
TA  - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
PG  - 405--408
VI  - 45
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/3/405.short
4100  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/3/405.full
AB  - Timber harvest of a mature pine stand when the soil was saturated caused rutting, displacement, and puddling of the soil. Potential change in soil productivity was evaluated using the growth of slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) seedlings as a biological index. Pine growth on plots logged when the soil was dry was used as the standard for normal productivity. At age 5, the average height of slash pine planted on the wet-logged plots was not significantly different than on dry-logged plots. Detailed mapping showed that about 9% of the logged site was severely rutted. Pines planted on these severely rutted areas were 1.9 m (6.3 feet) in height, compared to 2.8 m (9.1 feet) for pines planted on areas undisturbed by logging. This reduction in growth is significant according to nonparametric testing. Filling in the ruts with a clearing blade while shearing stumps before planting the seedlings restored site productivity. Application of 56 kg/ha (50 pounts/per acre) of phosphorus increased pine height growth 0.85 m (2.4 feet) on both the wet- and dry-logged plots.