Validating visual disturbance types and classes used for forest soil monitoring protocols

We describe several methods for validating visual soil disturbance classes used during forest soil monitoring after specific management operations. Site-specific vegetative, soil, and hydrologic responses to soil disturbance are needed to identify sensitive and resilient soil properties and processes; therefore, validation of ecosystem responses can provide information for best management practices in selecting appropriate harvest and site preparation techniques that limit long-term degradation and maintain site productivity and hydrologic function. Although research on forest managements affect on soil properties and plant growth responses has been conducted on a few sites, there is a need for additional site-specific validation data of soil visual disturbance attributes across the range of soil and forest conditions.