Effect of Heavy Machine Traffic on Soil CO2 Concentration and Efflux in a Pinus koraiensis Thinning Stand

Mechanized timber harvesting is cost efficient and highly productive. However, mechanized operations are often associated with several environmental problems, including soil compaction disturbance. Soil impedes air circulation between the atmosphere, which in turn results increased concentrations of CO2 within pores. In this study, we investigated impact forest machine traffic on conditions to determine efflux (Fc), (Sc). Field measurements included bulk density (BD), temperature (ST), water content (SWC), Fc, Sc over a 3-year period at specific thinning operation site (Hwacheon-gun) Gangwon Province Korea. To assess impacts traffic, established four machine-treatment plots (MT) characterized by different geographical conditions. The revealed that BD, Sc, SWC significantly disturbed track areas (p < 0.05). Furthermore, reduced Fc values were measured soil-compacted (machine disturbed) tracks comparison undisturbed (control) areas. Variations SWC, among MT plots. Additionally, areas, lower higher obtained compacted high temperatures.