Assessing log extraction related soil disturbance and solutions to protect soil and reduce disturbance of forest ecosystem.

Skid trails are the main routes for wood extraction and also the main source of runoff and sediment production in Forests. This research was conducted in Kuhmiyan forest of Golestan Province to determine infiltration, compaction, strength (resistance to penetration) and moisture content in three treatment including control (in the forest), wheel ruts and middle of skid trail were measured in three replications and three soil depth. The results showed  that total infiltration rate and infiltration at different time intervals, were significantly the highest. Compaction, strength and moisture content were also significantly different and the maximum values belonged to wheel ruts. Correlation results showed a negative linear relation with 90% R2  adjusted between infiltration- compaction and infiltration-strengths ,these two indexes could well be indicative of permeability changes. Some of Conservation strategies are: adding slash on skid trails to reduce compaction, limiting skidding operations to dry seasons, designing dips to reduce runoff on skid trails.