Productivity and cost of whole-tree and tree-length harvesting in fuel reduction thinning treatments using cable yarding systems

Cable yarding is a well establish technology for the extraction of timber in steep terrain. However, it is encumbered with relatively low productivity and high costs, and as such this technology needs to adapt and progress to remain viable. The development of biomass as a valuable byproduct, and the availability of processors to support yarder operations, lend themselves to increasing the level of whole-tree extraction. Double-hitch carriages have been developed to allow for full suspension of whole-tree and tree-length material. This study compared a standard single-hitch to a double-hitch carriage under controlled conditions, namely in the same location using the same yarder with downhill extraction. As expected, the double-hitch carriage took longer to load up (+14%), but was able to achieve similar productivity (10–11 m3 per productive machine hour) through increased inhaul speed (+15%). The importance of this study is that it demonstrates both the physical and economic feasibility of moving to whole-tree extraction using the double-hitch type carriage for longer corridors, for settings with limited deflection, or areas with lower tolerance for soil disturbance.

Download Full-text

Production economics: comparing hybrid tree-length with whole-tree harvesting methods

Forestry An International Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1093/forestry/cpz065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 93 (3) ◽

pp. 389-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Harikrishnan Soman ◽

Anil Raj Kizha ◽

Bethany Muñoz Delgado ◽

Laura S Kenefic ◽

Keith Kanoti

Keyword(s):

Management Practice ◽

Production Economics ◽

Motion Data ◽

Time Motion ◽

Advance Regeneration ◽

Processing Cost ◽

Implementation Costs ◽

Tree Length ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree

Abstract Felled trees with tops and branches are transported to the landing with a grapple skidder in conventional ground-based whole-tree (WT) harvesting. This method has greater potential to damage advance regeneration than those in which trees are processed at-stump. Hybrid tree-length (Hyb TL) harvesting using an stroke-boom delimber for in-woods processing might be a feasible alternative, but little is known about the production economics of this method. An experimental strip-cutting study was conducted in central Maine, US in the winter of 2018 to: (1) evaluate and compare operational productivity and costs of ground-based Hyb TL and WT methods; (2) identify factors influencing productivity of at-stump and at-landing log processing; and (3) calculate best management practice (BMP) implementation costs in WT harvesting. Time-motion data were recorded for operational phases such as felling, extraction, processing, sorting and loading; machine rates were calculated to determine productivity and costs of operations. Total cost of Hyb TL (US $17.01 m−3) was lower than that of WT ($18.38 m−3). Processing cost was lower at-stump than at-landing ($2.66 and $2.73 m−3 for Hyb TL and WT, respectively). This is likely due to fewer logs handled per cycle at-landing (1.2 logs per turn) compared to the number handled per cycle at-stump (1.4 logs per turn). Sensitivity analysis showed that a 30-m increase in average in-woods distance travelled by the delimber would result in a 41 per cent increase in the processing cost. Cost of BMP implementation in WT was $2.25 m−3 or $59.2 per productive machine hour. Results suggest that it is feasible to apply Hyb TL method in an industrial harvesting operation, though distance of in-woods delimber movement influences processing costs. Insights from this study will help forest managers and loggers efficiently plan and execute harvesting operations.

Download Full-text

Understory biomass and nutrients 2 years after timber harvest in northern Minnesota

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x81-041 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 306-309 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kenneth W. Outcalt ◽

Edwin H. White

Keyword(s):

Prescribed Burning ◽

Woody Species ◽

Timber Harvest ◽

Control Site ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Available Nutrients ◽

Tree Length ◽

Understory Biomass ◽

Whole Tree

Adjacent areas within a 60-year-old Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill. – Betulapapyrifera Marsh, stand in northern Minnesota, U.S.A., were clear-cut by whole-tree logging or tree-length logging followed by prescribed burning. Two years after harvest, understory biomass and nutrients were sampled on these sites and on an adjoining uncut control. All logged sites had significantly more total aboveground understory biomass than the control. However, biomass of woody species on the tree-length logged burn area did not differ from the control site. Because of the greater biomass on harvested sites, nutrient accumulations (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) by the understory were greater, with about 75% of these extra nutrients in herbs and shrubs. Although the quantity of nutrients in the understory is less than that removed with the overstory, it is important in maintaining the nutritional integrity of the system because it serves as a sink for available nutrients.

Download Full-text

Productivity, fuel consumption and cost in whole tree cable yarding: conventional diesel carriage versus electrical energy-recuperating carriage

International Journal of Forest Engineering ◽

10.1080/14942119.2020.1848178 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Thomas Varch ◽

Gernot Erber ◽

Raffaele Spinelli ◽

Natascia Magagnotti ◽

Karl Stampfer

Keyword(s):

Fuel Consumption ◽

Electrical Energy ◽

Cable Yarding ◽

Whole Tree

Download Full-text

Small Parcel Fuel Reduction with a Low-Investment, High-Mobility Operation

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/24.4.205 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 205-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mike J. DeLasaux ◽

Bruce R. Hartsough ◽

Raffaele Spinelli ◽

Natascia Magagnotti

Keyword(s):

Treatment Cost ◽

High Mobility ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Small Scale ◽

Fuel Reduction ◽

Fuel Treatment ◽

Pickup Truck ◽

Cutting Head ◽

Whole Tree ◽

All Treatment

Abstract Fuel reduction treatments are especially urgent near homes, where a stand replacement fire would also endanger property and human lives. However, the forested properties associated with homes are often too small for cost-effective mechanized fuel treatment performed with traditional methods and equipment. This project tested a small rubber-tracked skid-steer specially modified for forestry operations that can provide all the functions of a complete harvesting system. The skid-steer can, alternately,carry a hot saw for tree felling, a processor to delimb and buck felled trees, a brush cutting head for mastication, and a log-grapple to transport logs and trees. All of the equipment can be transported on a trailer pulled by a heavy pickup truck, which makes for fast, economical movement between project sites. The study confirmed that this system is well suited to small-parcel conditions around home sites and performs best on even terrain, moderate slopes, and softwood trees with a dbh between 5 and 8 in. It took from 7 to 15 productive machine-hours ac−1 to perform all treatment phases (i.e., mastication, felling, processing, and skidding). The occurrence of delays significantly increased this figures, bringing the average 9.7 productive hours ac−1 to 13.5 worksite hours. Treatment cost was estimated at $480 ac−1 and $1,146 ac−1 for whole-tree and cut-to-length harvesting, respectively. In addition to offering a reasonable treatment cost, the system has the advantage of requiring a low investment, which allows small-scale enterprises to get into the business.

Download Full-text

Performance Comparison for Two Cable Extraction Machines in a Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. Plantation

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12218864 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (21) ◽

pp. 8864

Author(s):

Seung-An Baek ◽

Koo-Hyun Cho ◽

Eunjai Lee

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Performance Comparison ◽

Larix Kaempferi ◽

Mountainous Areas ◽

Extraction Technology ◽

Lateral Distance ◽

Cable Yarding ◽

Tree Length ◽

Steep Terrain ◽

Forest Supply Chain

Forests in Korea are mainly located in steep mountainous areas, where small-shovel-based extraction technology is widely used, with the level of mechanization undoubtedly low due to financial limitations. On this steep terrain, a better approach may be to use cable yarders, which can offer high revenues through cable-based extraction. Therefore, improving the efficiency of cable yarding activities in good-quality timber forests is necessary. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the productivity and cost of a cable yarder operation for tree-length clearcut treatment of a Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. stand and (2) compare the productivity efficiency of two yarder (K301-4 and HAM300) types. The productivity rates of the K301-4 ranged from 10.2 to 12.5 m3/productive machine hours, with corresponding costs of US $12.6–15.4 /m3. The productivity of the HAM300 was 26% lower than that of the K301-4 for a 30% lower cycle log volume while yarding and a comparable lateral distance. This study provides insights to support production and management decisions in the forest supply chain associated with planning cable-yarding operations.

Download Full-text