Decay evaluation of damaged beech trees (Fagus orientalis L.) adjacent to skid trails by nondestructive stress wave technique

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Prof., Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modares

2 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modares

3 Associate Prof., Faculty Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modares

Abstract

    Ground skidding damages the marginal trees of the skid trails and may decrease their growth increment at long period. In this research the effects of ground skidding on decay development and extent of the beech trees (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) adjacent to the skid trails, at four age classes, including: 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-20 year were investigated. After classifying the skid trails to three traffic levels, including: low, moderate and sever, depending on their distance to depot location and trails intersections, the time required for wave transit across the marginal trees at three directions, consisting of: wound direction, wound cross and stem longitudinal direction, was measured, using a stress wave velocity apparatus. After data correction by the apparatus correction coefficient, the tree’s stress wave velocity at the three directions were calculated then statistically analyzed. The results showed that more than 75% of the trees located at 1.5 m. distance adjacent to the skid trails, were wounded by the skidders which resulted in 25% decay. There was also not any decay in the unwounded trees adjacent to the skid trails. Therefore the decay extended when the age of the skid trails increased. Most of the decays were found at trees located at the skid’s trails curves and t down slopes. The results of this research demonstrate an irretrievable, but preventable damage to the standing trees within the skid’s activity extent.

Keywords

References

- Aho, P.E., Fiddler, G. and Filip, G.M., 1989. Decay losses associated with wounds in commercially thinned true fir stands in Northern California. USDA Forest Service, Research Paper, PNW-RP-403, 8 p.
- Akay, A.E., Yilmaz, M. and Tonguc, F., 2006. Impact of mechanized harvesting machines on forest ecosystem: residual stand damage. Journal of Applied Science, 6(11): 2414-2419.
- Bettinger, P., and Kellogg, L.D., 1993. Residual stand damage from cut-to-length thinning of second-growth timber in the Cascade Range of Western Oregon. Forest Product Journal, 43: 59-64.
- Bucur, V., 2005. Ultrasonic techniques for nondestructive testing of standing tree. Ultrasonics, 43: 237-239.
- Ezzati, S. and Najafi, A., 2010. Long-term impact evaluation of ground-base skidding on residual damaged trees in the Hyrcanian Forest, Iran. International Journal of Forestry Research, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, vol. 2010, Article ID 183735, 8 p.
- Ficklin, R.L., Dwyer, J.P., Cutter, B.E. and Draper, T., 1997. Residual tree damage during selection cuts using two skidding systems in the Missouri Ozarks. 11th Central Hardwood Forest Conference: proceedings of a meeting held at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, March 23-26, 199: 36-46.
- Ghaffariyan, M.R., Sobhani, H. and Marvi Mohadjer, M.R., 2005. A study of site damages (soil & seedlings) by traditional logging method. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 58(4): 805-812.
- Glöde, D. and Sikström, U., 2001. Two felling methods in final cutting of shelterwood, single-grip harvester productivity and damage to the regeneration. Silva Fennica, 35: 71-83.
- Han, H.S. and Kellogg, L.D., 1997. Comparison of damage characteristics to young Douglas-fir stands from commercial thinning using four timber harvesting systems. Proceedings of Annual COFE meeting, July 28-31,1997, Rapid City, SD: 76-85.
- Han, H.S. and Kellogg, L.D., 2000. A comparison of sampling methods for measuring residual stand damage from commercial thinning. Journal of Forest Engineering, 11(1): 63-71.
- Jackson, S.M., Fredericksen, T.S. and Malcolm, J.R., 2002. Area disturbed and residual stand damage following logging in a Bolivian tropical forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 166: 271–283.
- Jourgholami, M. and Majnounian, B., 2011. Soil compaction and disturbance from logging with a wheeled skidder (case study: in Kheyrud Forest). Iranian Journal of Forest, 2(4): 287-298.
- Kazemi-Najafi, S., Bolandbakht, F. and Najafi, A., 2009. Detection of internal decay in standing beech trees using ultrasonic technique. 16th International Symposium on Nondestructive testing and Evaluation of Wood, 12-14 October 2009, Beijing, China: 16-19.
- Larsson, B., Bengtsson, B. and Gustafsson, M., 2004. Nondestructive detection of decay in living trees. Tree Physiology, 24: 853-858.
- Limbeck-Lilienau, B., 2003. Residual stand damage caused by mechanized harvesting systems. In: Proceedings of the Austro 2003 meeting: High Tech Forest Operations for Mountainous Terrain. CD ROM. Limbeck-Lilienau, Steinmüller and Stampfer (editors). October 5-9, 2003, Schlaegl-Austria, 11 p.
- Lin, C.J., Kao, Y.C., Lin, T.T., Tsai, M.J., Wang, S.Y., Lin, L.D., Wang, Y.N. and Chan, M. H., 2008. Application of an ultrasonic tomographic technique for detecting defects in standing trees. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 62: 434-441.
- Lotfalian, M., Parsakho, A. and Majnonian, B., 2009a. A method for economic evaluation of forest logging damages on regeneration and stand (case study: Alandan and Waston Series). Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(37): 51-61.
- Lotfalian, M., Majnonian, B., Rezvanfar, M. and Parsakho, A., 2009b. Investigation of damages due to forest logging under selection cutting system on stand and regeneration. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water and Soil Science, 12(46): 363-372.
- Majnounian, B., Tashakori, M., Marvie Mohadjer, M.R. and Keivan Behjou, F., 2009. Investigation on the damages to residual trees by traditional logging system in shelterwood sylvicultural method (case study: Royan forests). Iranian Journal of Forest, 1(3): 187-195.
- Majnounian, B., Jourgholami, M., Zobeiri, M. and Feghhi, J., 2010. Assessment of forest harvesting damage to residual stands and regenerations - a case study of Namkhaneh district in Kheyrud Forest. Environmental Sciences, 7(1): 33-44.
- Naghdi, R., Rafatnia, N., Bagheri, I. and Hemati, V., 2008. Evaluation of residual damage in felling gaps and extraction routes in single selection method (Siyahkal forest). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 16(1): 87-98.
- Seablom, T.J. and Reed, D.D., 2005. Assessment of factors contributing to residual tree damage from mechanized harvesting in northern hardwoods. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, 22(2): 124-131.
- Tavnkar, F., Mjnounian, B. and Eslam bonyad, A., 2009. Logging damages on forest regeneration and soil compaction using ground-based system (case Study: Asalem forest area, Guilan). Journal of Crop Production and Processing, 13(48): 449-456.
- Yilmaz, M. and Akay, A.E., 2008. Stand damage of a selection cutting system in an uneven aged mixed forest of Çimendaği in Kahramanmaras-Turkey. International Journal of Natural and Engineering Sciences, 2(1): 77-82.
Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research
Volume 20, Issue 4 - Serial Number 50
December 2013
Pages 633-622

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics