Effect of harvesting transit on the soil and development of Populus deltoides Marsh

Abstract

Field tests were carried out with the aim of evaluating harvest traffic effects on soil penetration resistance and plant growth of Populus deltoides Marsh. "Stoneville 66", "Catfish 2", "Harvard" (I-63/51) and "Onda" (I-72/51) clones were selected, with an equivalent stand density of 1.111 trees per hectare, growing on a typical Argiudol soil. A conventional tractor (2WD) of 73.5 kW and a pull type two-axle trailer plant were used. Four treatments were established in relation to three traffic intensities of 1,5 and 10 passages and non-trafficked lines between trees. The average height of each clone before the cut, stub survival, bud height reached after three years of passage and the penetration resistance for each treatment immediately after the passages and after three years of the passages were evaluated. The higher traffic intensity tested affected the survival and growth of Populus deltoides. Topsoil and subsoil compaction were detected one year after traffic treatments, and remained three years later in the higher traffic intensity treatment.