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SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023, 1-9
STJSSA, p-ISSN 1412-3606 e-ISSN 2356-1424 http://dx.doi.org/10.20961/stjssa.v20i1.63187
SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology
Journal homepage: http://jurnal.uns.ac.id/tanah
Decade-long soil changes after the clear felling in forests of the North-Western
Caucasus mountains
Aslan Shkhapatsev1, Valeria Vilkova2, Vasiliy Soldatov2, Kamil Kazeev2*, Sergey Kolesnikov2
1 Maikop State Technological University, Pervomaiskaya str. 191, Republic of Adygea, Maikop, Russian Federation
2 Southern Federal University, Stachki str. 194/1, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Keywords:
Ecological state
Hydrothermal conditions
Penetration resistance
Soil stability
Article history
Submitted: 2022-07-11
Accepted: 2022-10-22
Available online: 2023-01-04
Published regularly:
June 2023
* Corresponding Author
Email address:
kamil_kazeev@mail.ru
Clear-fell harvesting significantly alters ecosystem attributes at multiple spatial scales.
The results of a study of the dynamics of changes in Rendzik Leptosol and Greyic
Phaeozem Vertic forests in the middle mountains of the North-Western Caucasus after
clear-cutting in 2010-2020 are presented. Immediately after clearing the forest, areas
with varying degrees of disturbance of the soil and vegetation cover were identified in
the clearings, from maximum disturbance in the central part of the clearing to slight
disturbance on their periphery at different elevations of 540-1600 meters above sea level
(masl). The soil covering is represented with Rendzik Leptosol and Greyic Phaeozem
Vertic. Among used metrics were temperature, humidity, texture density, penetration
resistance, structural and aggregate composition, and other soil parameters. On felling
areas, increased temperatures and decreased soil humidity were recorded. The
temperature of Rendzik Leptosol at a depth of 10-30 cm changes within the range of 1-
15°С in the period 2018-2020. The terrain elevation affects the soil due to the
temperature gradient significantly. Rendzik Leptosol is much colder at an elevation 1640
meters above sea level than at 1200 meters above sea level. The temperature of
Phaeozem (540 meters above sea level) reaches 20°С during the summer months at a
depth of 10 cm. Soils in felling have differences in structural and aggregate composition
and water resistance of aggregates. The study results can be used in assessing damage to
ecosystems after deforestation and developing methods for accelerating the restoration
of soil properties after deforestation. The result of the study can be applied to assess the
change in the state of ecosystems after forest degradation. The most informative
diagnostic indicators for assessing the state of ecosystems after forest degradation are
discussed in the article.
How to Cite: Shkhapatsev, A., Vilkova, V., Soldatov, V., Kazeev, K., Kolesnikov, S. (2023). Decade-long soil changes after
the clear felling in forests of the North-Western Caucasus mountains. Sains Tanah Journal of Soil Science and
Agroclimatology, 20(1): 1-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.20961/stjssa.v20i1.63187
1. INTRODUCTION
In many parts of the world, forest ecosystems are
increasingly subject to degradation, so more attention to
productive landscapes is needed to preserve the natural
ecosystem. The forest felling drastically alters natural
ecosystems (Dymov, 2017). Soil is critical to maintaining the
productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. On the
one hand, soil physically supports trees and is a source of
moisture and nutrients for tree growth; when trees grow a
great deal of litter is generated, returning nutrients to soil to
improve its fertility through decomposition.
The ecological condition of forest soils changes
significantly at forest felling that leads to soil cover
degradation as a result of erosion processes and other kinds
of processes under conditions of mountain relief and plenty
of precipitates (Ivonin & Terteryan, 2015; Teng et al., 2019).
Progressive successions after the forest felling lead to
significant changes in the vegetation and soils (Kuznetsova
et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2020). In postforest ecosystems,
not only the degradation can be noted but also the so-called
ecotone effect, also known as marginal, or edge effect. The
ecotone effect appears not only concerning the vegetation
but also the other groups of organisms. The actuality of
research of the marginal effect is determined by the
possibility to use the received data for predicting the
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
2
condition of contiguous ecosystems and the estimation of
their mutual influence, as well as for examining ecotones as
specific wildlife habitual areas where rare species can
remain.
Far-reaching consequences of forest harvesting
operations are the change of soil morphology and the
compression of the upper soil layer, leading to decreased
porosity with negative consequences for the soil ecology and
forest productivity (Cambi et al., 2015). The firming of soil
arising as a result of the work of the heavy equipment used
in forest harvesting operations can limit forest productivity
seriously for a long time. The impact of the compression on
the fertility and the ecological condition of soils was studied
extensively, but less information is well known about the
recovery of soil properties over time (Azarenko et al., 2020;
Kazeev et al., 2020). The recovery of the physical properties
of Luvisol and Podzol was shown before, within 54 and 70
years (Mohieddinne et al., 2019).
In the southern part of European Russia, large areas of
undisturbed forests remained only in the Caucasus
Mountains. They cover a significant part of the territory
here, under submontane and mountain conditions. Forest
areas have appreciated value due to the wide variety of flora
and fauna, environment-forming, and nature protection
functions. The West Caucasus Mountains' Forests are among
Russia's most varied and productive natural ecosystems.
Firry forests and firry and beech forests call for special
attention at the forest management in the Krasnodar region
and Adygeya because they are disturbed due to the human
intervention least of all can be considered to be as reference
forests. However, these forests undergo a significant
anthropogenic impact now that is connected with the
increasing recreational pressure, construction of recreation
facilities, roads, power transmission lines, etc.
The problem of the recovery of soils disturbed by fellings
up to reference values is studied insufficiently, and no single-
valued answer exists within which time limit the soil
recovers, and if it recovers at all. That’s why the question of
soil recovery and the period necessary for it remains actual
up to the present.
The work’s goal was to determine regularities of the
dynamics of the soil changing in felling areas of the West
Caucasus Mountains depending on their genesis and the
stage of disturbing at the forest felling.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. The study area and soil sampling
The examined territory belongs to the Maykop District of
the North-Western Caucasus Mountains (Fig. 1). The
western part of the Caucasus Mountains belongs to low-
mountain relief and the area of medium-altitude Mountains.
Peculiarities of the mountain relief, the altitude
differentiation of the climate, and the long-term geologic
history of the territory of the Western Caucasus Mountains
determined a wide landscape and biologic variety. In the
Belaya River basin, the upper mountain belt's natural
vegetation is generally formed by two formations involving
dark coniferous forest trees: the firry forest and beech and
firry forest. At that, the latter prevails. Main forest forming
species are Caucasian fir Abies nordmanniana (Steven) Spac
and oriental beech Fagus orientalis Lipsky. The mean forest
stand diameter of the fir is from 24 cm to 80 cm (average
value 44.4 cm), the diameter of the beech is from 8 cm to 44
cm (average value 28.2 cm). The mean bushiness value is
665 trees per 1 ha. The mean reserve of the phytomass
carbon for forests of the North Caucasus Mountains is equal
to 70 tons ha-1 which is 60 % higher than the similar value
(44 kg ha-1) for forests in Russia, in general (Zamolodchikov
et al., 2019).
The researched soils of forests of the Western Caucasus
Mountains belong to Rendzik Leptosol that is present in
many geographic areas across the globe. These soils are
especially characterized by their soil-forming material
containing calcium; this material is formed on limestones,
dolomites, and milestones. In the southern part of European
Russia in forest zones of the Northern Caucasus Mountains,
Rendzik Leptosol soils with different genesis are widespread
on a significant area – more than 1.2 million hectares
(Konyushkov et al., 2019). The granulometric composition of
these soils is mainly loamy and heavy-loamy clay-silt
fraction. In typical and leached subtypes, silt is contained
more in surface horizons. Downwards along the soil profile,
the lowering of the humus content and the weathering
intensity, the silt content in the soil is lowering. The humus
content in the surface bed of forest Rendzik Leptosol soils
can exceed 10% and more. In underlying beds, its amount is
decreasing, but even in the soil-forming material, it amounts
to 2% approximately (Kazeev et al., 2012).
The reaction of the soil medium in humus beds of
Leptosol is neutral and alkalescent. In lower beds of soil, the
alkalinity increases up to the alkalescent reaction of the
medium due to the increased number of calcium
carbonates. Leached Rendzik Leptosol is distinguished by the
reaction of the medium that contains more acid in upper
beds (рН = 6.3-7.6), and the alkalescent reaction in lower
ones (рН = 7.6-8.1) (Kazeev et al., 2021).
The content of carbonates in surface beds of typical
rendzina soils is high (5-25%), and the amount of carbonates
in lower beds exceeds 50%. In leached rendzina soils,
carbonates can be present only in the lower part of the soil
body and the soil-forming material (Kazeev et al., 2012).
The examined territory is located at 10 km far from the
Guzerripl township (Adygeya Republik) at elevation 1640
meters above sea level. The observations were carried out
yearly from 2010 until 2019. The felling area is a cleared area
of the upper part of the slope that doesn’t contain any
vegetation. The soil surface on the felling site is terrifically
disturbed with heavy equipment. For such highly disturbed
soils, a new taxonomic definition of detrital turbated soils on
mechanically disturbed plots on felling areas was proposed
(Dymov, 2017). The research was conducted on felling plots
with different degrees of soil cover damage. For this, plots
with weak, mean, heavy, and very heavy levels of
anthropogenic soil damage were allocated. The criteria for
emphasizing were surface and degree of damage estimated-
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
3
Map of felling areas
Felling areas No.1 Felling areas No.2 Felling areas No.3
Figure 1. Surveyed areas, photo from an elevation 100 masl, June 2022
based on the force of soil scalping, soil mixing, and burial as
a result of heavy equipment work. In most cases, the degree
of damage decreased from the road (very strong) to the
border of the felling area (weak). Data on soil properties for
medium and low damage begins after 24 months of the
study. At first two years of the study, differentiation of sites
according to the degree of impact did not occur because the
idea to divide the sites according to the degree of effects
arose later. As a reference area, a plot of the beech and fir
forest was taken that borders on the felling area. The soil on
the plot is Rendzik Leptosol.
The researched felling areas are situated at several
kilometers from each other. The sample taking was carried
out on areas with different degrees of soil and plant cover
damage. The differences in research plots were estimated
based on the depth of the soil scalping, the degree of mixing,
and the burial of the heavy equipment working. Plots with
weak, mean, and heavy levels of soil damage were allocated
in proportion to the distance from the forest to the road.
The first felling area is situated in the vicinity of the
Partisan meadow, at the distance of 15 km from the Guzeripl
township; geographical coordinates are 44°0.310' of the
north latitude and 40°0.585' of the east longitude. Plots of
this felling area differed based on the degree of the impact
onto the soil (from the В1 plot with heavy damage to the В5
reference plot). On the В1 plot – on the natural soil road –
heavy damage was observed: glabrate territory with the
extremely intense erosion and this-sown plants. At several
meters, the В2 plot with the mean damage is situated which
is covered with high-grass meadow vegetation with the
weak understory of young regeneration. On the soil surface,
many vegetables remain present as rags. The ВЗ plot with
the weak damage is situated at 20 m from the road; on this
territory, the margin (ecotone) effect is observed; the
vegetation is the same as on the previous plot. On the soil
surface, the solid bed of peaty plant remains with the
thickness of 1-2 cm is present. The В5 reference plot is
situated 50 meters from the road and represents the
hornbeam, fir, and maple forest with fern and grass cover.
The second clean felling area is 9 km from the Guzeripl
township, at approximately 1200 meters above sea level;
geographical coordinates are 44°01.135’ of the north
latitude and 40°03.769’ of the east longitude. Here, on В6
plot, the heavy damage of the territory is recorded. This plot
can be characterized as a cleared territory on which erosion
processes are extremely intense. On the territory of this
plot, depositions, grey pebbles, and fragments of white
limestone with singular herbage plants were observed. At
10-15 m from this plot, the B7 territory with the mean
degree of damage is situated. On this plot, the high-grass
meadow cereal vegetation rich in herbs is observed, with the
weak understory of young regeneration of alder. To this
area, a B8 plot adjoins that has a weak degree of damage
and is covered with thick shrubby alder brushwood and high-
grass meadow vegetation. As a reference area, the В9 plot
was present here where beech, maple, and fir forests are
present with the underbrush from the fern, blackberry, and
miscellaneous herbs.
The researched territory with the Greyic Phaeozem
Vertic soil is near Dakhovskaya Cossack village, Adygeya
Republic. The researched soil is characterized by the high
content of the organic substance in the upper bed – 7.3 %,
neutral reaction of the medium – рН = 7.3, heavy-loamy
granulometric composition, and mean biological activity.
The reference area of the aspen and oak forest with the
subtle understory of young regeneration of the forest
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
4
islocated at 540 meters above sea level. The plot is divided
into 2 areas: the reference area (forest) and the clear-felling
area. Afterward, in 2019, the repeated clear-felling of grown
trees was carried out at the felling area. As a result, the
felling area was differentiated into 2 plots: the overgrown
felling area and the repeated felling area. The species
composition of the flora on the felling plot is represented
with forest and shrub vegetation (height of 8-10 m) with the
cover from the meadow cereal vegetation rich in herbs with
the height of 50-100 cm and 100-percent foliage cover. In
2019, on the part of the overgrown felling area, the
understory of young regeneration was felled repeatedly.
That’s why the vegetation was represented here by the
meadow cereal motley grasses. Three soil samples from the
soil upper layer (0-10 cm) were selected on each
investigated plot.
2.2. Determination of soil properties
The soil temperature was defined layer-by-layer with a
HANNA CHECTEMP electronic thermometer. Besides, the
DT-810 “СЕМ“ pyrometer in 10-fold replication was used to
determine the soil surface temperature. The temperature
dynamics from 2018 to 2020 were researched using
Thermochron DS1921 temperature sensors at a depth of 10,
20, and 30 cm, with the measurement's periodicity from 3 to
6 hours. The soil humidity was determined afield using the
Fieldscout TDR 100 humidimeter in 10-fold replication. The
soil bulk density was determined using the volume-weight
method using steel rings with a volume of 135 cm3 in 3-fold
replication. The soil hardness (penetration resistance, soil
structure strength) was investigated afield using the
EIJKELKAMP penetrometer at a depth of 50 cm at an interval
of 5 cm in 10-fold replication.
The structural and aggregate analysis of the soil was
carried out using the method of N.I. Savvinov consists of the
soil's dry sieving through the sieve column with cell
dimensions from 10 mm to 0.25 mm. The water stability of
structure aggregates was determined by taking into account
aggregates that crumbled in the slack water within a certain
period.
Combining several parameters is a method used to
determine the integral parameter of the soil's biological
state (IPBS) (Kazeev et al., 2003). This method allowed the
evaluation of the biological parameters set. For this, the
value of each parameter in the control soil was taken as
100%—this parameter value was expressed as a percentage
in relation to it as Equation [1].
........................................................ [1]
where B1 is the relative score of the parameter, Bx is the
actual value of the parameter in the post-fire soil, Bc is the
value of the parameter in the control soil.
After that, the average estimated score of the studied
parameters for the sample was calculated. The absolute
values cannot be summed since they have different units of
measurement (mg, %, etc.). The integral parameter of the
biological status of the soil was calculated according to the
Equation [2].
.................................................. [2]
where Ba – the average estimated score of all parameters in
post-fire soil, Ba.c – estimated score of all parameters under
control. Indicators for calculating IPBS: humus, active
carbon, catalase, dehydrogenases, invertase, urease,
phosphatase, microbial biomass, and number of bacteria.
2.3. Statistical analysis
The statistical processing of data was carried out using
Statistica 10.0 software. When discussing the results,
statistically significant differences with a significance level of
5% (p < 0.05) were taken into account (р < 0.05).
3. RESULTS
The dynamics of the flora and vegetation varied on
felling areaS. After one year, carpet plants appeared on the
felling area, decreasing of damages (tracing ruts, furrows, et
al.) caused by heavy equipment work was noted. On the
reference area in the forest, the species composition
counted approximately 40 species with the prevalence of
Abies nordmanniana, Fagus orientalis, and Acer trautvetteri
Medw. The rarefied crown cover and good moisture
conditions create favorable conditions for the development
of the herbaceous layer. Common species with foliage cover
up to 50% are Milium effusum L., Polygonatum verticillatum
(L.) All., Galium odoratum (L.) Scop., Dryopteris filixmas (L.)
Schott, Poa longifolia Trin. Afterward, after several years,
the species composition of the flora on felling areas with the
mean and especially weak damage exceeded the biological
diversity in reference areas of the forest significantly. This is
connected with the edge (margin) effect. The meadow high-
grass vegetation with a height up to 150-200 cm covered the
surface of the felling area on these plots completely. Only
plots with severe damage to the soil cover due to severe
erosion are characterized by weak variety and rarefied grass
cover (Kazeev et al., 2021).
3.1. Temperature
In felling plots with the high anthropogenic load, high
temperature and low humidity were recorded compared to
reference values under the forest cover. This is connected
with the low-grade foliage cover of the vegetation on plots
with severe damage. The minimal temperature and the
maximal humidity were recorded in reference areas of the
forest that prevented the soil surface insolation to a
considerable extent.
Temperature conditions of Leptosol are presented in
Figure 2. Generally, it is noted that the soil temperature
during the year changes from 1 to 15°С. The soil
temperature under the forest, near the felling area number
1 changes significantly in summer and winter at different
depths. In transition months, soil temperature differences at
different depths are less essential. It should be noted that a
thick covering of snow lies here during the significant part of
the year, and it preserves the soil against frost penetration,
but low temperatures persist from November until May.
Comparative studies of the temperature conditions of
researched plots showed a significant discrepancy of values
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
5
Figure 2. Dynamics of soil temperature in the control plot of forest felling No.1, 2018-2019
Figure 3. Soil temperature dynamics at a depth of 10 cm in control forest plots at different terrain heights, 2019-2020: 1)
1640 m; 2) 1200 m, 3) 540 m
depending on the height above sea level. The terrain
elevation affects the soil temperature dynamics due to
under conditions of the medium-altitude mountains (Fig. 3).
Thus, soils of felling area No.1 at 1635 masl are colder than
the similar soil of felling area No.2 at 1200 masl. The felling
area No.3 on the Phaeozem soil is distinguished by warmer
conditions because of its location at 540 masl. The soil
temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches 20°С here during
the summer months. No freezing of the soil has been
detected on all three felling areas.
3.2. Dynamics of physical properties of soils after the
forest felling
The physical properties of soils on felling areas were
disturbed significantly after the anthropogenic damage.
During the first years after the forest felling, a significant
excess of the soil texture density was recorded compared to
the forest soils metrics. The density values increase was
connected closely with the degree of soil surface damage at
forest felling and trawling. The pot values increase with
severe damage until the high level 1.43-1.45 g/cm3 (Fig. 4).
The highest level of anthropogenic impact was increased
the soil density (Fig. 5). After three years, the soil texture
density on the felling plots with the mean and high degree of
degradation was higher (0.8-1.3 g cm-3) than on the
reference plot (0.8 g cm-3). At the same time, on the plot
with moderate damage, the soil texture density became
lower than in the reference area.
The soil consolidation on the felling area also leads to the
change of hardness measured based on the ingress
(penetration) resistance. Due to conducted studies, the
increase of the metric values was detected on damaged
plots of the felling area (Fig.6). On the first year of studies,
inversions of the profile distribution of the soil hardness
were detected on the felling area; these inversions are
detected with damages to the soil’s natural texture.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Jun-18 Jul-18 Aug -18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19
temperature, 0C
2018-2019
10cm 20cm 30cm
0
5
10
15
20
25
temperature, 0C
2019-2020
1 2 3
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
6
Figure 4. Dynamics of the Rendzik Leptosol composition bulk density in the felling areas with various disturbances of the soil
cover, 2010-2020
Figure 5. Density of Rendzik Leptosol in different felling areas, average values for 2010-2020
The aggregate content with the dimensions 10 - 0.25
mm in Rendzik Leptosol decreases from 60-70% under the
forest to 33-45% on plots with severe damage. The water
resistance of aggregates also decreases 98-100% to 33-45%.
However, in some cases, especially on plots with a low
degree of damage of the soil and vegetation cover on edges
of felling areas, no changes of these parameters may occur.
The result is connected with the intensification of the sod-
forming process under the grassland vegetation in the early
succession stages.
On the plot with the Greyic Phaeozem Vertic soil, at 540
meters above sea level, no significant differences in the
texture density were recorded during the first years after the
forest felling. In 2014, a moderate increase by 10-15% was
noted compared to reference values. The same as for felling
areas with Leptosol soil, the higher soil temperatures on the
felling plot were connected with the increased insolation in
the absence of the high forest crop. Ten years after the
forest felling, the physical parameters of the soil practically
recovered and achieved reference values. The texture
density was optimal for plants in all areas (0.87-0.95 g cm-3).
The number of valuable soil aggregates in the reference soil
was much higher from 2019 until 2020 (by 61-76%) than on
felling plots (24-37%). At that, the water stability of
aggregates practically did not differ at a high level (89-99%).
As reflected in the IPBS, the total changes in biological
activity decreased by 23 and 2% from two sites of severe
damage by logging in 2019, and in 2020 by 22% for Greyic
Phaeozem Vertic soil. For Rendzik Leptosol, the total change
in biological activity decreased by 74, 40, 48% from three
sites of severe logging damage in 2019. Figure 7 shows that
in 2020 for Rendzik Leptosol there was a 51, 36, 40%
decrease.
4. DISCUSSION
The dynamics of the flora and vegetation vary on felling
areas. After one year, carpet plants appeared on the felling
area, decreasing of damages (tracing ruts, furrows, et al.)
caused by heavy equipment work was noted. On the
reference area in the forest, the species composition
counted approximately 40 species with the prevalence of
Abies nordmanniana, Fagus orientalis, and Acer trautvetteri
Medw. The rarefied crown cover, as well as good moisture
conditions, create favorable conditions for the development
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
020 40 60 80 100 120
g/cm3
time, mo.
soil texture density
forest low mean heavy
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
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Figure 6. Soil penetration resistance in different felling areas, 2020
of the herbaceous layer. Common species with up to 50%
foliage cover are Milium effusum L., Polygonatum
verticillatum (L.) All., Galium odoratum (L.) Scop., Dryopteris
filixmas (L.) Schott, Poa longifolia Trin. Afterward, after
several years, the species composition of the flora on felling
areas with the mean and especially weak damage exceeded
the biological diversity in reference areas of the forest
significantly. This is connected with the edge (margin) effect.
The meadow high-grass vegetation with a height up to 150-
200 cm covered the surface of the felling area on these plots
completely. Only plots with severe damage to the soil cover
due to severe erosion are characterized by weak variety and
rarefied grass cover (Kazeev et al., 2021).
In broad-leaved and cool-temperate dark-coniferous
forests, changes in species diversity follow the parabolic
trajectory during restorative successions at clear-cutting
sites; in other words, the diversity initially increases and
then decreases during the progress of the succession. This is
caused by introducing invasive synanthropic species during
the early stages of the succession (Shirokikh et al., 2018).
In felling plots with the high anthropogenic load, high
temperature and low humidity were recorded compared to
reference values under the forest cover. This is connected
with the low-grade foliage cover of the vegetation on plots
with severe damage. The minimal temperature and the
maximal humidity were recorded in reference areas of the
forest that prevented the soil surface insolation to a
considerable extent.
Significant changes in hydrothermal conditions in fellings
in the middle mountains with Rendzik Leptosol are
associated with thinning of the forest stand, which leads to a
greater influx of precipitation into this area, but the holding
capacity decreases. Also, due to the lack of shading, the soil
is heated, resulting in a decrease in air humidity, and this in
turn leads to an increase in water evaporation. The reserves
of soil moisture in the areas subjected to felling are greater
than under the forest canopy, this is also associated with a
large amount of precipitation entering the soil surface.
Compared to the forest, the felling area receives 19% more
precipitation (Kazeev et al., 2012). In addition, the subsoil
forest microclimate contrasts sharply with the climate
outside the forest due to the presence of trees and shrubs.
The microclimate changes due to the forest's thinning stand
persist for several years after the felling of trees. Forests
have a microclimate regulated by the forest canopy, the top
layer of the forest. When gaps in the forest canopy occur, for
example due to harvesting, the regulating influence of the
forest canopy diminishes as more sunlight penetrates the
canopy and reaches the forest floor. This leads to physical
changes in the forest climate (den Ouden & Mohren, 2020).
Changing the temperature conditions of Rendzik Leptosol
from 1 to 15°C doesn’t promote the intense execution of
biological processes in the soil during the major part of the
year. That’s why organic remains can be preserved for a long
time, and the forest cover appears on the soil surface; as
well as the peaty layer of the mortmass of plants (rags)
appears on felling areas. However, this layer doesn’t reach
higher values and can disappear by the end of the summer
almost completely; it is mineralized or humified.
Areas of timber-loading plots and runways are often
compacted too much. The soil compaction is directly
correlated with the number of passes of the harvesting
equipment (Rubinskaya et al., 2016). On runways, the
density is higher by 59% five years from the felling whilst the
density on bee-gardens was within normal limits (Ilintsev et
al., 2019).
0
1
2
3
4
5
010 20 30 40 50
MPa
depth, cm
В1
В2
В3
В5
0
1
2
3
4
5
010 20 30 40 50
MPa
depth, cm
В6
В8
В9
В10
0
1
2
3
4
5
010 20 30 40
MPa
depth, cm
forest recutting overgrown
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
8
Figure 7. Integral index of biological activity of Greyic Phaeozem Vertic and Rendzik Leptosol at plots with heavy damage,
2019 and 2020
The compaction of the upper soil layer and soil morphology
changes are important direct consequences of forest
harvesting operations carried out using heavy equipment.
The soil compaction leads to the decrease of porosity that
implies restrictions of the oxygen and water entry for soil
microorganisms and plants; this negatively impacts to the
soil ecology and forest productivity. In compacted soils,
forest regeneration can be hindered or even terminated for
a long time (Cambi et al., 2015).
The reason for this was the damage of the texture of
surface beds and the general soil consolidation at works
using powerful heavy equipment. Afterward, erosion
processes washed upper unconsolidated beds of soil out.
The soil density variation because of the forest felling
persists within the whole time of observation. The degree of
soil density increase depended upon the level of the load on
the researched territory.
The soil bulk density decrease in the slight disturbance
area is associated with the increase of entry of plant remains
into the soil because of the formation of the high-grass flora
at the better sun lighting at the periphery of the felling area.
That’s why the thicker organogenic bed is formed here, and
in connection with the plentiful growth of grassland
vegetation, the larger soil volume is penetrated with roots.
Аccording to the integral parameter of the biological state
(IPBS) data, a high resistance of Phaeozem against Rendzik
Leptosol to logging was established. On average, the total
indicator of biological activity for Phaeozem after
deforestation is closer to control values than Rendzik
Leptosol.
5. CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the forest felling, significant changes take
place in the soil cover during 10 years from the appearance
of damages. The significant increase of the soil texture
density takes place in felling areas, in comparison with
reference forest soils. The more the soil surface was
damaged at the forest felling and trawling, the higher the
soil texture density is. This metric characterizes the degree
of soil degradation well has been disturbed at the forest
felling, and it persists after the termination of the impact for
a long time. Ecological conditions (terrain elevation, climatic
variables, relief conditions, forest type, etc.) significantly
impact the evolution of Rendzik Leptosol soils in medium-
altitude mountains in Adygeya that contain the dark humus
where the soil is disturbed due to felling. The properties of
Phaeozem soils of low-mountain relief of the West Caucasus
on plots with different vegetation types are characterized by
lower differences. Therefore, these soils are more resistant
to the forest felling than Rendzik Leptosol soils of areas of
medium-altitude mountains of the West Caucasus.
0
20
40
60
80
100
Forest Cutting 1 Cutting 2
%Phaeozem
2019 2020
0
20
40
60
80
100
Forest Cutting 1 Cutting 2 Cutting 3
%Rendzik
2019 2020
Shkhapatsev et al. SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 20(1), 2023
9
Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the Leading Scientific School
of the Russian Federation (NSh- 449.2022.5) and by the
Strategic Academic Leadership Program of the Southern
Federal University ("Priority 2030" № SP-12-22-9).
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that no competing financial or
personal interests that may appear and influence the work
reported in this paper.
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