Predicting forwarder rut formation on fine-grained mineral soils

Predictive factors for forwarder rut formation were studied on fine-grained mineral soils. The study was carried out in southern Finland in mid-May, when the soil water contents were high after snowmelt. A total of 7 study tracks of 20 m were cut with a harvester. After removing the logging residues, a loaded forwarder made 3-4 passes on each track. The forwarder rut depth was related to the total overdriven mass driven over the measurement line, volumetric water content, cone penetration resistance and the harvester rut depth. A total of five mixed-effects models are presented to predict the rut depth. The first model includes the overdriven cumulative mass, volumetric water content of the soil and the cone penetration resistance. As a penetrometer is more of a research tool, the second model includes only the overdriven cumulative mass and water content, factors that can be used in practical planning operations. The remaining three models all include the rut depth after the harvester pass and the overdriven cumulative mass and also include volumetric water content and cone penetration resistance. The model including the rut depth after a harvester pass and the overdriven cumulative mass is a good predictor of the rut depth and supports earlier findings on the connection between harvester and forwarder rut formations.