LAUSR

Abstract Ground based timber harvesting on wet sites has been linked to alteration of soil properties that may result in reduced long term site productivity. Following Hurricane Hugo in the fall of 1989, numerous salvage logging operations were conducted under high soil moisture conditions to reduce wildfire risk and salvage timber within the Francis Marion National Forest in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina. Study sites were established on wet pine flats to examine the long term effects of primary skid trails and site preparation on planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) growth. Treatment effects were analyzed as a split-plot within a randomized complete block design with 12 blocks, four levels of site preparation (none, disking, bedding, disking with bedding), and two levels of machine traffic (primary skid trail, no obvious traffic). After 23 years, bedding and disking with bedding enhanced stand density (p