The effect of skidding by excavator on soil compaction in the industrial plantation forest of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract The impact caused by excavator is damage to forest vegetation and physical damage to forest soil. The aimed of this study was to analyze of soil compaction due to skidding in the industrial plantation forest of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, North Sumatra. This research was conducted in the industrial plantation forest of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, North Sumatra. Soil samples were taken each cycle with a skidding intensity of 5, 10 and 15 round-trip with a repetition distance of 10 m and with 3 replications, respectively. This research shows that soil mass density increases with the increase in skidding intensity. The value of soil mass density increases along with the increase in the intensity of skidding both in the litter path and without litter path. The soil mass density with litter-lined paths is lower than witout litter-lined paths.