comparison of post-harvest sample designs to assess impact to organic forest soils in eastern manitoba
abstract
five sampling methods were developed, tested, and compared to assess soil impact from
harvesting equipment on organic sites in unfrozen condition. this study pointed to the
gap in the literature for such a sample design. suitability for utilization for the methods
suggested was based on statistical and operational feasibility. the results from this study
suggested situational assessment before choosing a sample design. the five designs
within a harvested area included fixed area plots, randomly located transect intercepts,
randomly located transect cluster intercepts, and two fixed start transect intercept
designs. the fixed area plots recognized the most number of different disturbance types
and also introduced the most variance. the random transect intercept method may prove
useful and more accurate if implemented differently. the fixed start transect were not
statistically justifiable and were investigated to fulfill an industrial mandate survey
criteria. for the sites investigated, the plot design yielded the highest resolution of
information. although a complete economic analysis was not undertaken, the plot
design may prove one of the most economical. caution should be exercised when
applying these designs to areas other than the study sites.
collections
- retrospective theses [1604]