Evaluating and refining methods to minimize soil compaction during timber harvesting is important for maintaining soil health and long‐term forest productivity. This is especially important when harvesting methods change over time. In this study, a hybrid harvesting method was used with the trees cut by one machine, in‐forest processing of trees by other machines, and transporting the wood to the roadside by a forwarder on silt loam soils during the summer months. Two methods for sampling soils with mixed horizons in logging trails were developed to determine the baseline values of soil bulk density for long‐term monitoring and to compare soils from nonmixed B horizons with those of B horizons from nontrafficked areas. For both methods, paired soil samples, in and outside of logging trails, were collected to determine the difference in bulk density between trails and nontrafficked areas. Soil compaction in trails was greatest where the soils adjacent to trails had low bulk densities and for locations that were closest to landings. These results are important in the context of climate change, as more summer logging is expected to occur in areas traditionally cut in the winter because of longer frost‐free periods and more winter precipitation occurring as rain. More logging during the expanding snow‐free season could translate to a greater degree of compaction and longer soil recovery times over a larger portion of the forested landscape.

中文翻译：

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北方阔叶林机械化采伐对土壤压实的影响

为保持土壤健康和长期森林生产力，评估和改进方法以最大程度地减少木材采伐期间的土壤压实。当收获方法随时间变化时，这一点尤其重要。在这项研究中，采用了一种混合采伐方法，即在一台机器上砍伐树木，再用另一台机器在森林中加工树木，并在夏季月份通过货运代理将木材运到路旁的粉壤土上。开发了两种对伐木径迹中的混合层土壤进行采样的方法，以确定用于长期监测的土壤容重的基线值，并将非混合B层层的土壤与非人口贩运区的B层层的土壤进行比较。对于这两种方法，在测井轨迹之内和之外的成对土壤样品，收集以确定小径和非贩运区域之间的堆积密度差异。在靠近小径的土壤以及堆积密度最小的地方，小径的土壤压实作用最大。这些结果在气候变化的背景下非常重要，因为由于无霜期较长和雨水产生的冬季降水增多，传统上冬季砍伐的地区预计会有更多的夏季伐木活动。在不断扩大的无雪季节中，更多的伐木活动可以转化为更大程度的压实和更长的森林恢复时间。这些结果在气候变化的背景下非常重要，因为由于无霜期较长和雨水产生的冬季降水增多，传统上冬季砍伐的地区预计会有更多的夏季伐木活动。在不断扩大的无雪季节中，更多的伐木活动可以转化为更大程度的压实和更长的森林恢复时间。这些结果在气候变化的背景下非常重要，因为由于无霜期较长和雨水产生的冬季降水增多，传统上冬季砍伐的地区预计会有更多的夏季伐木活动。在不断扩大的无雪季节中，更多的伐木活动可以转化为更大程度的压实和更长的森林恢复时间。