THE EFFECT OF INITIAL SOIL-WATER CONTENT AND VEGETATIVE COVER ON SURFACE SOIL DISTURBANCE BY TRACKED VEHICLES

A field trial was conducted to examine the effect of initial soil wate r content and vegetative cover on soil disturbance caused by tracked m ilitary vehicles. Disturbance was measured as depth of rut produced. S oil disturbance increased as the number of passes and turns increased, but especially after turning manoeuvres. Greater disturbance occurred on reduced vegetation plots and with increasing initial soil water co ntent. Simple regression analysis was undertaken to determine which fa ctor had the greatest influence on disturbance.