Experimentelle Untersuchungen über den Einfluß des Befahrens auf die Oberbodenverdichtung

Measurements of infiltration rates on undisturbed soils in the Bavarian Forest show highly variable permeability, ranging from very slow to high. On the other side, permeability on skid trails and in wheel ruts is in any case slow or very slow. If measured infiltration rates are compared with heavy rains or snow melt, surface flow on natural forest soils is an exception, whereas it will occur on skid trails and in wheel ruts already when precipitation is relatively low. Nevertheless, logs should be skidded on skid trails only, because doing it all over a stand will cause soil compaction which is up to three times higher than on skid trails. Infiltration measurements as part of a comprehensive working program in Zusmarshausen have shown wide tires to cause less damage to forest soils than regular tires. Regular tires lower infiltration rates to less than 1 mm/hr already by passing over just twice. With wide tires, infiltration rates remain-compared with undisturbed soils, however, reduced-significantly higher (1-40 mm/hr) even after driving over ten times.