Compaction of a latosol subjected to skidder traffic with different wheeled

O processo de mecanização da colheita de madeira possibilitou um aumento significativo na produtividade e na qualidade das operações. Entretanto, o tráfego intenso de máquinas pesadas tem sido o grande responsável pela compactação do solo em áreas florestais. Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo avaliar os níveis de compactação de um Latossolo causada pelo trator florestal skidder com rodados de pneus e rodados de pneus recobertos com semiesteiras. O estudo foi conduzido nas áreas de colheita de madeira de uma empresa florestal localizada no estado do Paraná. A compactação do solo foi determinada por meio de alterações nas variáveis de densidade, porosidade total, porosidade de aeração e resistência do solo à penetração. As amostras de solo e os dados de resistência à penetração foram coletados em quatro pontos igualmente espaçados ao longo das trilhas de tráfego das máquinas e em linhas sem tráfego (testemunha), em três níveis de profundidade (0 a 15, 15 a 30 e 30 a 50 cm). A análise dos resultados mostrou que o skidder equipado com rodados de pneus foi responsável pela maior alteração na densidade do solo, com 1,22 e 1,17 mg.m-3 nas profundidade de 0 a 15 e 15 a 30 cm, respectivamente. Não houve alteração significativa nas propriedades físicas do solo devido ao tráfego do skidder com os diferentes tipos de rodados, mostrando que a instalação da semiesteira nos rodados das máquinas não acarretou em redução da compactação do solo.Palavras-chave: Compactação; tipos de rodados; extração florestal. AbstractCompaction of a latosol subjected to skidder traffic with different wheeled. The process of mechanization of timber harvesting allowed a significant increase in productivity and quality of operations. However, heavy traffic of large machines has been largely responsible for soil compaction in forest areas.This research aimed to evaluate the latosol compaction caused by skidder with tires and tracks over the tires. The study was developed in the logging areas of a forestry company located in Parana State. Soil compaction was evaluated by soil bulk density, aeration porosity, total porosity and penetrometer resistance. The soil samples and date of penetrometer resistance were taken at four points equally spaced along both the trails with and without traffic at three depth levels (0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 50 cm). The results showed that the skidder equipped with tires was responsible for the greatest change in density, with 1.22 and 1.17 mg.m-3 in the depth of 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm, respectively. There was not significant change in soil physical properties caused by skidder traffic with the different wheeled types, proving that the installation of the tracks over tires did not result in smaller soil compaction.Keywords: Compaction; wheeled types; wood extraction.The process of mechanization of timber harvesting allowed a significant increase in productivity and quality of operations. However, heavy traffic of large machines has been largely responsible for soil compaction in forest areas.This research aimed to evaluate the latosol compaction caused by skidder with tires and tracks over the tires. The study was developed in the logging areas of a forestry company located in Parana State. Soil compaction was evaluated by soil bulk density, aeration porosity, total porosity and penetrometer resistance. The soil samples and date of penetrometer resistance were taken at four points equally spaced along both the trails with and without traffic at three depth levels (0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 50 cm). The results showed that the skidder equipped with tires was responsible for the greatest change in density, with 1.22 and 1.17 mg.m-3 in the depth of 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm, respectively. There was not significant change in soil physical properties caused by skidder traffic with the different wheeled types, proving that the installation of the tracks over tires did not result in smaller soil compaction