Author Description

Timber harvesting with ground-based equipment necessitates the construction of skid roads and landings which may alter the soil's chemical and physical characteristics and adversely affect site productivity. The result is a complex interaction between soil texture, changes in soil properties, and tree species. This report presents the results of a study to measure selected soil physical and chemical parameters on landings and adjacent cutover areas in the Fort St. James areas to ascertain the relative effects of winter landing construction on soil properties, and the resulting effect on tree growth. Additionally, foliar nutrient status of the established plantations on landings and natural regeneration on off-landing areas was measured. Seedling height-growth data from the off-landing areas were collected to supplement the height data from the landing seedlings as reported in Arnott (1985).