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<p>In the tropical forests of Amazonia, logging is a vital part of local economies. Nevertheless, logging entails soil disturbance which could potentially and adversely affect soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Skid trails cause most of the soil disturbance at logged sites, but is it enough to alter SOC stocks long-term? Thus, the present study sought to clarify this question by investigating 15- and 25-year-old skid trails to assess potential impacts to the below-ground carbon pool. In this endeavor, ten skid trails and five control plots in undisturbed old-growth forest were evaluated by sampling forest floor litter, soil bulk density, soil texture, pH and SOC in four depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–30&#xa0;cm. Results presented SOC accumulation when concentrations were measured in the surface of 25-year-old skid trails. Yet, when accounting for soil bulk density increases to calculate SOC stocks, between all sites, including undisturbed old-growth forest, the differences appear to be inconsequential, at least in the topsoil. Additionally, recovery of soil bulk density occurred to a depth of 20&#xa0;cm under the skid trail tracks, although soil compaction was still encountered at 30&#xa0;cm depth after 25 years. Thus, the aim of logging operations should be to minimize the amount of skid trail construction when entering unlogged forest and reuse existing skid trails when reentering logged forest to minimize potential impacts to SOC pools, especially with impacts to SOC in the subsoil still unknown.</p>

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Elevated concentrations of soil organic carbon observed in Amazonian skid trails decades after logging

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月25日

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  • Daniel DeArmond,
  • Adriano José Nogueira Lima,
  • Niro Higuchi

摘要

In the tropical forests of Amazonia, logging is a vital part of local economies. Nevertheless, logging entails soil disturbance which could potentially and adversely affect soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Skid trails cause most of the soil disturbance at logged sites, but is it enough to alter SOC stocks long-term? Thus, the present study sought to clarify this question by investigating 15- and 25-year-old skid trails to assess potential impacts to the below-ground carbon pool. In this endeavor, ten skid trails and five control plots in undisturbed old-growth forest were evaluated by sampling forest floor litter, soil bulk density, soil texture, pH and SOC in four depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm. Results presented SOC accumulation when concentrations were measured in the surface of 25-year-old skid trails. Yet, when accounting for soil bulk density increases to calculate SOC stocks, between all sites, including undisturbed old-growth forest, the differences appear to be inconsequential, at least in the topsoil. Additionally, recovery of soil bulk density occurred to a depth of 20 cm under the skid trail tracks, although soil compaction was still encountered at 30 cm depth after 25 years. Thus, the aim of logging operations should be to minimize the amount of skid trail construction when entering unlogged forest and reuse existing skid trails when reentering logged forest to minimize potential impacts to SOC pools, especially with impacts to SOC in the subsoil still unknown.