Use of Impact Penetrometer to Determine Changes in Soil Compactness After Entracon Sioux EH30 Timber Harvesting

Wood harvesting with the use of wheeled harvesters is now common in Polish and Czech forests. While moving forest, wheels these machines affect forest soil extent this impact interesting. The paper presents results measurements changes that occur on operational trails after timber using Entracon Sioux EH30 thinning harvester. were taken fragments three trails, between ruts at a distance 1.0 m off trail. An penetrometer was used to measure penetration resistance, samples collected determine bulk density moisture content, deformations trail measured profile meter. Unit pressures exerted by harvester ground determined. It shown places where pass, even small weight (5.73 tons, 8 wheels) unit <50 kPa, parameters occurred. A statistically significant increase resistance relation control occurred depth up 35 cm, while 5 cm more than 2-fold. There also slight decrease content (up 7.9%) an 8.4%) ruts, rut depths reached 4 cm. As it shown, penetrometer, simple design, which assumed be for measurements, not type research forestry, despite its limitations, can compactness resulting from machine work.