GROUND GROUND PREPARATIONPREPARATION

‘‘CULTIVATION’CULTIVATION’

‘‘CULTIVATION’CULTIVATION’

‘‘.. Is the tilling of the soil and its vegetation or .. Is the tilling of the soil and its vegetation or brash cover with implements to provide a brash cover with implements to provide a favourable environment for efficient favourable environment for efficient establishment and early uniform growth of establishment and early uniform growth of plants or regeneration…….it includes plants or regeneration…….it includes treatments such as mounding , moling, treatments such as mounding , moling, ploughing , ripping, scarifying and subsoiling.’ploughing , ripping, scarifying and subsoiling.’

Cultivation of soils for Forestry Cultivation of soils for Forestry F.C. Bulletin F.C. Bulletin 119119

REASONS FOR CULTIVATIONREASONS FOR CULTIVATION

Improves conditions for tree growth by Improves conditions for tree growth by changing soil and site conditionschanging soil and site conditions

Enables successful and cost effective Enables successful and cost effective establishment of young treesestablishment of young trees

Suppresses weed growthSuppresses weed growth Improves rootingImproves rooting Improve drainage and aerationImprove drainage and aeration To improve natural regenerationTo improve natural regeneration

What is actually done in the ground What is actually done in the ground prep?prep?

Brash movedBrash moved Break up humus and mixing of soil horizonsBreak up humus and mixing of soil horizons Improving pore space Improving pore space Break up compactionBreak up compaction Change soil and air temperature near soil Change soil and air temperature near soil

surfacesurface Alter soil moisture conditionsAlter soil moisture conditions

What effects on…..What effects on…..

Soil temperatureSoil temperature Air temperature (frosts)Air temperature (frosts) Soil moistureSoil moisture Soil moisture in dry soilsSoil moisture in dry soils Soil densitySoil density

Choice of ground prep. equipmentChoice of ground prep. equipment

Size of areaSize of area Site conditionsSite conditions Environmental constraintsEnvironmental constraints Availability of machineryAvailability of machinery Versatility of machineryVersatility of machinery Cost in relation to benefitsCost in relation to benefits

Site conditionsSite conditions

Restocking site

New planting

Site conditionsSite conditions

Reclamation site

CultivationCultivation

Street trees

Ground clearanceGround clearance

Burning

Raking

Stump harvesting

Brash harvesting

Cultivation Cultivation

Deep ploughing

CultivationCultivation

CultivationCultivation

CultivationCultivation

Ripping (or sub-soiling)

WindrowingWindrowing

Brash rakingBrash raking

Brash rakeBrash rake

MulchingMulching

ScarifyingScarifying

Patch ScarifyingPatch Scarifying

Continuous moundingContinuous mounding

Excavator MoundingExcavator Mounding

Trench Trench MoundingMounding