Comparison of Productivity and Cost Between Two Integrated Harvesting Systems in South Korea

Interest in the production of renewable energy using forest biomass is increasing in South Korea, and improved knowledge on operations logistics to lower biomass harvesting costs is needed. This study aimed to build a low-cost forest-biomass harvesting system by analyzing the costs of two integrated (cut-to-length and whole-tree) harvesting systems for logs and logging residues. Two integrated harvesting systems were carried out in the clear-cut mixed forest on a steep slope. Compared to the cut-to-length system that separately extracts logs and logging residues in a forest, the cable whole-tree harvesting system can save $8.8/green weight ton (Gwt) because it requires no additional yarding operation cost of logging residues. Moreover, a breakeven analysis shows that the required machine utilization rates that favor whole-tree harvesting systems over cut-to-length harvesting were more than 70% for cable harvesting systems. The introduction of the whole-tree harvesting system is, therefore, required to produce forest biomass at a low cost. In the future, studies on forest-biomass processing and transportation systems will be needed to provide a biomass feedstock supply cost from stump to biomass power plant.

Download Full-text

Assessing Biomass Removal and Woody Debris in Whole-Tree Harvesting System: Are the Recommended Levels of Residues Ensured?

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12060807 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 807

Author(s):

Abdelwahab Bessaad ◽

Isabelle Bilger ◽

Nathalie Korboulewsky

Keyword(s):

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Forest Biomass ◽

Field Methods ◽

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Biomass Removal ◽

Technical Effort ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

Forest biomass is a sustainable source of renewable energy and a valuable alternative to finite fossil fuels. However, its overharvesting may lead to soil nutrient depletion and threaten future stand productivity, as well as affect the habitat for biodiversity. This paper provides quantitative data on biomass removal, fine woody debris [d ≤ 7 cm], and coarse woody debris [d > 7 cm] left on the forest floor in whole tree harvesting systems. Using tree allometric equations and inventory field methods for woody debris estimation, we assessed biomass removal on nine fuelwood harvesting sites in Central France, as well as fine and coarse woody debris left on the sites. The aboveground biomass estimates showed a high variability between the studied sites, it varied between 118 and 519 Mg ha−1. However, less variability was found among sites managed as coppice-with-standards 174 ± 56 Mg ha−1. Exported biomass was 107 ± 42 Mg ha−1 on average, including 35 ± 9% of fine wood. The amounts of both fine and coarse woody debris left on sites were generally less than 10% of the total harvested biomass in 2/3 of the studied sites. These amounts are lower than the minimum retention levels recommended by the sustainable forest biomass harvesting guidelines. Therefore, more technical effort and additional management measures should be taken to ensure more woody debris, especially in poor forest soils and thus, to guarantee a sustainable biomass harvesting.

Download Full-text

Analysis of a feller-buncher productivity: a case study of whole-tree harvesting from Marmara region, Turkey

Annals of Forest Research ◽

10.15287/afr.2021.2033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 99-110

Author(s):

Neşe Gülci ◽

Kıvanç Yüksel ◽

Sercan Gülci ◽

Hasan Serin ◽

Ebru Bilici ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Diameter ◽

Tree Height ◽

Forest Products ◽

Forest Harvesting ◽

Marmara Region ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Diameter Classes ◽

Tree Harvesting

In fully mechanized forest harvesting systems, tree felling activities are mostly performed by using harvesters or feller-bunchers. In some regions of Turkey, where terrain conditions and stand characteristics are suitable, fully mechanized harvesting systems have been recently practiced by some of the logging contractors as private forest industry demands for large amounts of forest products throughout the year. Thus, performances of these newly practiced harvesting systems should be carefully analyzed in order to implement productive and cost-effective mechanized harvesting systems. In this study, productivity of whole-tree harvesting using a feller-buncher was investigated based on stand parameters including tree height, DBH, and volume. The DBH of the felled trees were divided into four classes (i.e. very small: 16-19 cm, small: 20-23 cm, medium: 24-27 cm and large: 28-31 cm) to investigate the effects of various DBH class on the time consumption of cutting stage and productivity of the feller-buncher. To estimate productivity of feller-buncher in harvesting operation, multiple linear and polynomial regressions were also developed and discussed after the interpretation of diagnostic plots. The results indicated that the average productivity of the feller-buncher was 74.96 m3 /h which was closely related with tree height (r = 0.63), DBH (r = 0.67), and volume (r = 0.67). The average moving time was the most time-consuming stage (60%), followed by cutting (29%) and bunching stages (11%). It was found that DBH classes caused statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on the time spent on cutting stage and productivity of the feller-buncher. The cutting time and productivity increased from very small to large diameter classes, while bunching time increased from very small to small diameter and then medium diameter to large diameter classes. Polynomial regression had a positive impact on the performance of the estimation model of manually field-measured data based on the error parameters.

Download Full-text

Soil Disturbance by Logging in New England̶Review and Management Recommendations

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/5.1.30 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 30-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

C. Wayne Martin

Keyword(s):

Mineral Soil ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Northern Hardwood ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Management Recommendations ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Subsequent Regeneration ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

Abstract The extent and magnitude of soil disturbance caused by mechanized, whole-tree harvesting was studied on a central hardwood site in Connecticut, a northern hardwood site in New Hampshire, and a spruce-fir site in Maine. Twenty-nine percent of the soil surface at the central hardwood site was undisturbed, but only 8% on the other sites was undisturbed. Mineral soil was exposed on 8 to 18% of soil surfaces after cutting, with wheel ruts more than 30 cm deep occupying less than 3%. Mechanized whole-tree harvesting causes a greater proportion of soil disturbance than other harvesting systems and will affect advanced and subsequent regeneration to a greater degree. If deep rutting occurs on wet soils, equipment should be moved until drier conditions prevail; winter logging and conversion from wheel to track vehicles may be options for reducing impact. Skid trails should follow the land contours. Travel routes should be predetermined to reduce the surface area being compacted. Practices that expose infertile mineral soil should be minimized. North. J. Appl. For. 5:30-34, March 1988.

Download Full-text

Productivity and Cost of Processors in Whole-Tree Harvesting Systems in Southern Pine Stands

Forest Science ◽

10.1093/forsci/fxz036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (6) ◽

pp. 767-775 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joseph L Conrad ◽

Joseph Dahlen

Keyword(s):

Us South ◽

High Productivity ◽

Time And Motion ◽

The Us ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Motion Studies ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Harvesting Costs ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

AbstractLogging businesses in the US South have not adopted cut-to-length harvesting systems. Adding dangle head processors on the landing of whole-tree harvesting systems may allow southern loggers to achieve some of the advantages of cut-to-length systems (i.e., precise length and diameter measurements) while maintaining high productivity and low costs per ton characteristic of current whole-tree systems. We conducted a designed study of conventional (i.e., feller-buncher, grapple skidder, loader) and processor (i.e., feller-buncher, grapple skidder, processor, loader) systems. Four harvest sites were split, with half of each site harvested by a conventional system and the other half by a processor system. Harvesting productivity was estimated using time-and-motion studies, and costs were estimated using the machine rate method. Cut-and-load costs averaged US$13.57 and US$14.67 ton–1 on the processor and conventional harvests, respectively (P > .10). Cost per ton was elevated on several conventional harvest tracts because of long skidding distances, indicating harvest planning is more important than harvesting system in determining harvesting costs. Processing and loading costs were US$1.70 ton–1 higher on processor harvests, which, combined with restrictive mill quotas being more problematic for processor crews, suggests loggers will require a logging rate premium in order to invest in processors.

Download Full-text

Damage to northern hardwoods from thinning using whole-tree harvesting technology

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x86-219 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 1238-1244 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

W. D. Ostrofsky ◽

R. S. Seymour ◽

R. C. Lemin Jr.

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Basal Area ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Stand Type ◽

Northern New England ◽

Stand Damage ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Total Damage ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

A mechanized whole-tree harvesting system, which has recently found widespread use in northern New England, was evaluated for its impact on residual crop trees in two northern hardwood stands in western Maine. Stand type, skid trail spacing, and whether or not skid trails were designated prior to harvesting significantly influenced stand damage levels. A higher mean percentage of residual trees was injured in a Betulapapyrifera Marsh, stand (49%) than in similar treatments in a Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh. – Quercusrubra L. stand (32%). A spacing of 20 m between predesignated trails resulted in less damage (22%) to the remaining trees than a spacing of 40 m (53%), but with many more potential crop trees cut for trails. At both sites, highest total damage was found in treatments where no skid trails were predesignated, with 82 and 43% of the crop trees damaged or removed in the B. papyrifera stand and the Fagus–Quercus stand, respectively. Models were developed to predict the effects of thinning systems, tree size, species, dbh, stand basal area, and distance from tree to skid trail on the probability of being damaged. High damage levels indicate that such harvesting systems are unsuitable for some sites and require careful planning and layout on all sites.

Download Full-text

CHANGES IN MACRONUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS IN SOIL SOLUTION FOLLOWING REGENERATION FELLING IN PINE AND SPRUCE STANDS: WHOLE-TREE HARVESTING VERSUS STEM-ONLY HARVESTING

Proccedings of International Scientific Conference "RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2017" ◽

10.15544/rd.2017.172 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Ivars KLAVINS ◽

Arta BARDULE ◽

Zane LIBIETE

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Solution ◽

Tree Species ◽

Peat Soil ◽

Site Type ◽

Logging Residues ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

While conventional forest management in boreal and hemiboreal conditions has traditionally been targeted to use and enhance mainly provisioning services like timber production, the main goal of national and European forest policy is to ensure sustainable management of European forests in all aspects. Regeneration felling is a major disturbance in boreal and hemiboreal forests resulting in significant increase of organic matter on the forest floor in the form of logging residues (bark, small branches, tree tops) and severed roots (in case of stump harvesting), and can increase the risk of nutrient leaching. Recently, concern about the effect of forest management impact on macronutrient leaching potentially decreasing nutrient availability for the next forest generations and causing deterioration of water quality has been raised. In 2011, three objects to study the impact of different intensity regeneration felling (stem-only harvesting and whole-tree harvesting) were established in scientific research forests in Kalsnava forest district, eastern part of Latvia. Two sites were located on mineral soils (Myrtillosa and Hylocomiosa site type, dominant tree species Pinus sylvestris L.) and one on drained peat soil (Oxalidosa turf. mel. site type, dominant tree species Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Felling was performed in early spring 2013 with harvester, timber was extracted and logging residues were removed with forwarder, following “business as usual” principle. Soil solution samples were collected once or twice a month in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. This study presents trends of pH and macronutrient (NO3--N, PO43--P, K) concentrations during five years – one year before harvesting and four years following harvesting. In general, significant forest management impact expressed as increase of macronutrient concentrations in soil solution was detected in the second and third year after harvesting, but in the fourth year concentrations started to decrease again.

Download Full-text

Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070841 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 841

Author(s):

Iveta Desaine ◽

Annija Kārkliņa ◽

Roberts Matisons ◽

Anna Pastare ◽

Andis Adamovičs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Economic Value ◽

Forest Types ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

The Difference ◽

Growing Conditions ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

Download Full-text

Whole-tree Harvesting Depletes Soil Nutrients

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x74-077 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 530-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Edwin H. White

Keyword(s):

Soil Nutrients ◽

Nutrient Removal ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Site Conditions ◽

Nutrient Pool ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

This paper reports the effects of whole-tree harvesting of eight cottonwood stands on the soil nutrient pool. The data indicate possible site degradation by depletion of soil reserves of N, P, and K but not Ca and Mg on a range of alluvial site conditions in Alabama. Foresters must establish the rate of nutrient removal in intensive tree cropping systems for a variety of species and sites and develop prescriptions to minimize the impact.

Download Full-text