Influence of ruts on the physical properties of Gleyic Retisols after logging machinery passage

Rutting is the main type of deep soil disturbance caused by clear-felling operations. Here, we evaluated basic soil physical properties in ruts at various soil depths after the passage of logging machinery. The present study was carried out in North Eastern Russia. In total, we measured rut depth at 160 points along wheel tracks, and collected soil samples. Samples (n = 420) from two soil horizons (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) were taken, both from ruts and from undisturbed soil (control). The correlation analysis showed a direct significant relationship between rut depth and soil bulk density (po = 0.662, p 30 cm) ruts. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the formation of middle and deep ruts in particular.