Editing Tillage (section)

===Orientation of linear site preparation===
With linear site preparation, orientation is sometimes dictated by [[topography]] or other considerations, but the orientation can often be chosen. It can make a difference. A disk-trenching experiment in the Sub-boreal Spruce Zone in interior British Columbia investigated the effect on growth of young outplants ([[Pinus contorta|lodgepole pine]]) in 13 microsite planting positions: berm, hinge, and trench in each of north, south, east, and west aspects, as well as in untreated locations between the furrows.<ref name="burt">{{Cite journal |last1=Burton |first1=P. |last2=Bedford |first2=L. |last3=Goldstein |first3=M. |last4=Osberg |first4=M. |date=2000 |title=[No title found] |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1023/A:1006796412006 |journal=New Forests |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=23–44 |doi=10.1023/A:1006796412006|s2cid=20334017 }}</ref> Tenth-year stem volumes of trees on south-, east-, and west-facing microsites were significantly greater than those of trees on north-facing and untreated microsites. However, planting spot selection was seen to be more important overall than trench orientation.

In a Minnesota study, the N–S strips accumulated more snow but snow melted faster than on E–W strips in the first year after felling.<ref name="clau">Clausen, J.C.; Mace, A.C., Jr. 1972. Accumulation and snowmelt on north–south versus east–west oriented clearcut strips. Univ. Minnesota, Coll. For., St. Paul MN, Minn. For. Res. Notes No. 34. 4 p.</ref> Snow-melt was faster on strips near the centre of the strip-felled area than on border strips adjoining the intact stand. The strips, 50 feet (15.24 m) wide, alternating with uncut strips 16 feet (4.88 m) wide, were felled in a ''Pinus resinosa'' stand, aged 90 to 100 years.