In the forests of GE Zaplana, measurements were taken in August with the aim of testing phytocenoses, as the basic unit for determining soil susceptibility to mechanized forest logging. On a sample trail nearly 14 km long, 90 measurements were taken, which took place on paved and unpaved logging trails and skid trails followed the following criteria: tyre track depth, trail width, trail slope, amount of rock present, presence of roots and road category. Measurements were taken in four basic phytosociological units: OmphalodoFagetum (OF), Blechno–Fagetum (BF), Galio Rotundifolii-Abietetum (GA) in HacquetioFagetum (HF). Using statistical anlayses we accepted our hypothesis, which predicted that there would be no significant difference in tyre track depth between the four individual phytosociological units. The deepest tracks were found on paved trails (7,0 cm), then on unpaved logging trails (5,8 cm), with the shallowest tracks being found on skid trails (1,9 cm). Our findings suggest that as the trail slope increases, so does the track depth. However we were not able to confirm the suitability of individual phytosociological units for measuring the susceptibility of soil. In order to accept the hypothesis with absolute confidence, a larger sample size with more measurements in various phytosocioligical units would be required.
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