Paper presented at ISTVS 2025 | 55th Conference of the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems https://doi.org/10.56884/7ZENE0MP
Authors: Kersti Vennik, Tõnu Tõnutare
Keywords: Soil shear strength; Cone index; Trafficability; Soil chemical elements
Abstract:
Military training areas are unique in their function and usage. These areas must endure intensive and repeated movement of wheeled and tracked military vehicles, as well as dismounted troops. Depending on the training requirements of defense forces, military training areas can undergo rapid land-use changes. For instance, when new firing ranges or maneuvering grounds are needed, forests may be cleared to create open areas. Deforestation has a significant impact on soil properties. Logging and uprooting activities displace soil layers and alter soil structure. The primary goal of training land managers is to restore the usability of deforested areas as quickly as possible, making the restoration of disturbed ground a key focus. The objective of this study was to assess the status of soil physical properties, chemical composition, and trafficability conditions two years after deforestation. As deforestation contributes to the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere, it plays a significant role in climate change. A key objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil CO₂ levels following deforestation. Measurements were conducted in 2020 at a military training ground in northern Estonia. The study included bulk density and moisture content measurements, as well as the determination of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Cone Index (CI) values for both disturbed and undisturbed areas. The plant-available nutrient content (P, K, Mg, Ca) was determined using the ammonium acetate-lactate (AL) method. Soil carbon and nitrogen content were measured using the Dumas method. Measurement results are presented, highlighting the effects of disturbance and recovery on soil properties.
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