Impacts of Forest Operations on the Sustainable Management of Forest Soils

Dear Colleagues,

Forest operations can adversely affect forest soils and the subsequent growth of trees and crops. Forest productivity and sustainability can be reduced by soil degradation caused by compaction and erosion, especially during soil tillage, management, and harvesting. Soil compaction leads to a reduction in infiltration and the redistribution of soil water, which increases runoff and erosion. These consequences can persist and negatively impact subsequent forest and crop growth and productivity in both the short and long term. Despite the knowledge gained in recent years, there are uncertainties about the effects of forest operations on the quality of different soil types to achieve and maintain the sustainability of forest systems. The goal of this Special Issue is to provide an input on advances in soil tillage, management and forest harvest operations throughout the forest cycle to achieve and maintain productivity and sustainability.

Potential topics related to forest systems, growth, and productivity include, but are not limited to:

• Soil tillage and the management of soil’s physical, chemical and biological qualities;
• Soil organic carbon, aggregate stability, and nutrient cycling;
• The effects of soil tillage and harvesting operations on soil physical–hydric properties;
• The effects of land use, management, and land use changes on soil quality;
• Components of the hydrologic cycle and erosion processes at the slope and watershed scales.

Dr. Miriam Fernanda Rodrigues
Guest Editor

Prof. Dr. Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki
Dr. Gabriel Oladele Awe
Co-Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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