Soil compaction effects of forwarding and its relationship with 6- and 8-wheel drive machines

Abstract

A study was done to determine the impact, if any, of a range of drive train options on the soil compaction effects of forwarders. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the cost of optional forwarder equipment versus its ability to reduce detrimental soil physical property changes. Tests were done on forwarders equipped with wide and narrow tires, rear steel tracks, and 6 or 8 tires. The configurations differed, at the extremes, by a factor of about 2 in expected ground pressure. Despite that, results showed little difference in bulk density, soil strength, rut formation, or porosity changes (pre- versus post-traffic) between any of the tested options. The implication was that, for the moisture conditions encountered in the study, the use of the tested options did not alter soil compaction impacts substantially. A drop in macroporosity was observed, however, which may have been evidence that traffic affected soil structure without compacting it by a detectable amount.

Citation

Seixas, Fernando; McDonald, Tim. 1997. Soil compaction effects of forwarding and its relationship with 6- and 8-wheel drive machines. Forest Products Journal.47(11/12): 46-52.