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Depth-to-Water Maps to Identify Soil Areas That Are Potentially Sensitive to Logging Disturbance: Initial Evaluations in the Mediterranean Forest Context

Author

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  • Francesco Latterini

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy)

  • Rachele Venanzi

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Damiano Tocci

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Rodolfo Picchio

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Scientific research on reduced-impact logging has been addressed to develop effective approaches and methodologies to limit soil disturbance caused by forest operations. In recent years, the development of soil trafficability maps based on soil wetness indices is the approach that has been extensively used in the context of the Boreal forests. In particular, the depth-to-water (DTW) index has been identified as an interesting solution for the identification of areas particularly sensitive to soil disturbance. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-benefit factor of DTW maps for the identification of soil-sensitive areas in the Mediterranean context. In particular, a DTW map was developed for two oak coppice areas located in Italy and harvested over a period of 2–4 years with different mechanisation levels. Soil surveys concerning soil moisture, physico-chemical properties (bulk density, penetration resistance, shear resistance, organic matter), and biological properties (soil microarthropods community measure via soil biological quality (QBS-ar) index) were carried out in these forests, checking for significant differences between the zones at DTW index ≤1 (which should be more sensitive to soil disturbance) and the other areas of the forest soil. The results obtained revealed the efficiency of a DTW index in potential areas at a higher level of soil moisture. On the other hand, the values of soil physico-chemical properties in the areas at a DTW index ≤1 did not differ significantly from the ones in other zones. However, the values of the QBS-ar index in areas with a low DTW index were significantly lower than the ones in zones at the DTW index >1. Therefore, the obtained findings reveal that the DTW index is a reliable tool to identify and predict which areas are more prone to impact soil biological properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Latterini & Rachele Venanzi & Damiano Tocci & Rodolfo Picchio, 2022. "Depth-to-Water Maps to Identify Soil Areas That Are Potentially Sensitive to Logging Disturbance: Initial Evaluations in the Mediterranean Forest Context," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-13, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:709-:d:811213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meghdad Jourgholami & Azadeh Khoramizadeh & Angela Lo Monaco & Rachele Venanzi & Francesco Latterini & Farzam Tavankar & Rodolfo Picchio, 2021. "Evaluation of Leaf Litter Mulching and Incorporation on Skid Trails for the Recovery of Soil Physico-Chemical and Biological Properties of Mixed Broadleaved Forests," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Murphy, Paul N.C. & Ogilvie, Jae & Meng, Fan-Rui & White, Barry & Bhatti, Jagtar S. & Arp, Paul A., 2011. "Modelling and mapping topographic variations in forest soils at high resolution: A case study," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2314-2332.
    3. Farzam Tavankar & Rodolfo Picchio & Mehrdad Nikooy & Meghdad Jourgholami & Ramin Naghdi & Francesco Latterini & Rachele Venanzi, 2021. "Soil Natural Recovery Process and Fagus orientalis Lipsky Seedling Growth after Timber Extraction by Wheeled Skidder," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Rodolfo Picchio & Francesco Latterini & Piotr S. Mederski & Damiano Tocci & Rachele Venanzi & Walter Stefanoni & Luigi Pari, 2020. "Applications of GIS-Based Software to Improve the Sustainability of a Forwarding Operation in Central Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-15, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodolfo Picchio & Rachele Venanzi & Aurora Bonaudo & Lorenzo Travisani & Vincenzo Civitarese & Francesco Latterini, 2024. "Evaluating an Innovative ICT System for Monitoring Small-Scale Forest Operations: Preliminary Tests in Mediterranean Oak Coppices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-11, May.

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