GROUND
PREPARATION
‘CULTIVATION’
‘CULTIVATION’
‘.. Is the tilling of the soil and its vegetation or
brash cover with implements to provide a
favourable environment for efficient
establishment and early uniform growth of
plants or regeneration…….it includes
treatments such as mounding , moling,
ploughing , ripping, scarifying and subsoiling.’
Cultivation of soils for Forestry F.C. Bulletin
119
REASONS FOR CULTIVATION
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Improves conditions for tree growth by
changing soil and site conditions
Enables successful and cost effective
establishment of young trees
Suppresses weed growth
Improves rooting
Improve drainage and aeration
To improve natural regeneration
What is actually done in the ground
prep?
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Brash moved
Break up humus and mixing of soil horizons
Improving pore space
Break up compaction
Change soil and air temperature near soil
surface
Alter soil moisture conditions
What effects on…..
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Soil temperature
Air temperature (frosts)
Soil moisture
Soil moisture in dry soils
Soil density
Choice of ground prep. equipment
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Size of area
Site conditions
Environmental constraints
Availability of machinery
Versatility of machinery
Cost in relation to benefits
Site conditions
Restocking site
New planting
Site conditions
Reclamation site
Cultivation
Street trees
Ground clearance
Burning
Brash
harvesting
Raking
Stump
harvesting
Cultivation
Deep ploughing
Cultivation
Cultivation
Cultivation
Ripping
(or sub-soiling)
Windrowing
Brash raking
Brash rake
Mulching
Scarifying
Patch Scarifying
Continuous mounding
Excavator Mounding
Trench
Mounding