Investigation of soil physical properties 11 years after water-bar construction on skid trail

It is necessary to find solutions for soil recovery of skid trail. Water-bar construction is one of the ‎best management practices to improve the compaction and prevent the erosion of skid trail soil. ‎Recovery of soil physical properties 11 years after water-bar construction on skid trail was ‎investigated on 40 square meter sample plots in two slope (0-10% and 10-20%) and three traffic ‎classes (Low, Medium, High) in the forests of Nav district in the west of Guilan province. The ‎studied variables included soil bulk density, total porosity, penetration resistance and rutting depth. ‎Soil bulk density, penetration, and rutting depth were measured by steel cylinder, pocket ‎penetrometer, and a 5-m leveling rod. The parameters in each treatment were studied in three ‎replications. The effect of slope and traffic variation on soil physical properties was performed on 72 ‎sample plots. The results showed that the effect of slope, traffic and their interaction were ‎significant on soil bulk density, total porosity, penetration resistance, and depth of rutting. The ‎value of soil bulk density, total porosity, and penetration resistance in LSLT (Low Slope-Low ‎Traffic) class was recovered, and there was no significant difference between this class and the ‎control area. The results of the study showed a positive effect of water-bar construction on the ‎recovery of soil properties in skid trail with low slope and low traffic.