scholarly journals Estimation of Productivity and Costs of Using a Track Mini-Harvester with a Stroke Head for the First Commercial Thinning of a Scots Pine Stand

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 870
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Leszczyński ◽  
Arkadiusz Stańczykiewicz ◽  
Dariusz Kulak ◽  
Grzegorz Szewczyk ◽  
Paweł Tylek
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Intensity Parameter ◽  
Minimum Diameter ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Usage Rate ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Farm Tractor ◽  
Hydraulic Crane ◽  
Wide Access

The aim of the present work was to estimate the productivity and costs of timber harvesting and forwarding during the first commercial thinning of a Scots pine stand. Three harvesting models were introduced and compared: narrow trail, wide access trail, and schematic extraction. The analyzed harvesting equipment consisted of a track mini-excavator (34 kW) with a stroke harvester head (gripping range 4–30 cm), and a farm tractor coupled to a logging trailer with a hydraulic crane. Merchantable timber (roundwood with a minimum diameter of 5 cm inside bark) was harvested from a 25-year-old planted Scots pine stand growing on a grid of 1.4 m × 1.8 m. The study showed the productivity of the mini-harvester ranged from 3.09 to 3.47 m3/PMH15 (productive machine hours plus 15 min), and that of the forwarding equipment to be 4.07 m3/PMH15. The analyzed model of productivity as a function of tree volume and thinning intensity was statistically significant, but the intensity parameter was significant only on plots located along wide access trails (3.7 m) and insignificant on plots located along narrow access trails (2.5 m). The distance between trees was not found to be significant. The calculated net machine costs for the forwarding equipment and track mini-harvester were EUR 36.12 and 52.47 per PMH, respectively. An increase in the usage rate of the harvesting equipment to 80% would reduce the harvesting and forwarding costs to EUR 22.07/m3.

scholarly journals Productivity and Cost Models for the First Commercial Thinning of a Scots Pine Stand Using an Excavator with an Arbro 400S Harvester Head and a Farm Tractor Coupled to a Logging Trailer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Leszczyński ◽  
Arkadiusz Stańczykiewicz ◽  
Dariusz Kulak ◽  
Grzegorz Szewczyk ◽  
and Paweł Tylek
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Cost Models ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Minimum Diameter ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Farm Tractor ◽  
Forwarding Set

The objective of the present work was to determine the productivity and costs of timber harvesting and skidding during the first commercial thinning of a Scots pine stand. The analyzed harvesting set consisted of a mini-excavator (34 kW) with an stroke harvester head (gripping range: 4–30 cm), and a farm tractor coupled to an logging trailer with a hydraulic crane. Merchantable timber (roundwood with a minimum diameter of 5 cm inside bark) was harvested from a 25-year old planted Scots pine stand growing on a grid of 1.4×1.8 m. The study showed the productivity of the mini-harvester range from 3.09 to 3.47 m3∙PMH15 -1, and that of the forwarding set to be 4.07 m3∙PMH15 -1. The analyzed model of productivity as a function of individual tree volume and thinning intensity was statistically significant, but the intensity parameter was significant only on plots located along wide access trails (3.7 m) and insignificant on plots located along the narrow access trial (2.5m). The intertree distance was not found to be significant. The calculated net machine costs for the forwarding set and mini-harvester were 36.12 Euro∙PMH 1 and 52.47 Euro∙PMH-1, respectively. An increase in the utilization rate of the harvesting set to 80% would reduce the timber harvesting and skidding costs to 22.07 Euro∙m-3.

scholarly journals Damage to Residual Trees in Thinning of Broadleaf Stand by Mechanised Harvesting System

Forests ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Branko Ursić ◽  
Dinko Vusić ◽  
Ivica Papa ◽  
Tomislav Poršinsky ◽  
Željko Zečić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Measurements ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Common Beech ◽  
Bark Damage ◽  
Standing Trees ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Extent Of Damage ◽  
Damage Type

This research was conducted to determine the cause, intensity and location of damage (stem, butt end, root collar, root) and the extent of damage to standing trees during felling and processing by an harvester and timber extraction by a forwarder (cut-to-length system). The research was conducted in the central part of the Republic of Croatia in the Management Unit (MU) “Bjelovarska Bilogora” during the thinning of Subcompartment 14b, area of 18.28 ha, in the stand of hornbeam (Carpino betuli—Quercetum roboris fagetosum Rauš 1975), age 70, and of Subcompartment 14c, area of 9.07 ha, in a stand of common beech (Carici pilosae—Fagetum Oberdorfer 1957) aged 79 years. The thinning intensity was 12.13% in Subcompartment 14b and 13.72% in Subcompartment 14c. Field measurements were carried out on sample plots—the first time in 2017 to determine the intensity and characteristics of the damage to standing trees with regard to the cause of the damage (harvester or forwarder), and the second time in 2018 to determine the overall intensity and features of the damage to standing trees after finishing harvesting operations. For all trees remaining in the stand after the harvesting operations, the following were determined: tree species, diameter at breast height (DBH), the position of the tree in the stand depending on the forest traffic infrastructure, and—if damaged—cause of damage, type of damage, the position of damage on the tree, and dimensions of damage. The intensity of the damage was expressed by the ratio of damaged and undamaged trees, with a detailed analysis of bark damage (squeezed-bark damage and peeled-bark injuries). The results of the research indicate the highest prevalence of peeled-bark injuries. In relation to the total number of standing trees, trees with peeled-bark injuries were more represented in Subcompartment 14c (39%) than in Subcompartment 14b (33%). In Subcompartment 14b, the harvester and the forwarder damaged an equal number of trees, while in Subcompartment 14c, the harvester damaged 59% of the damaged trees. In both subcompartments, an average of 83% of (peeled bark) injuries were up to 1.3 m above the ground. In both subcompartments, the most common (67%) were injuries up to 100 cm2 in size, for which many authors claim the tree can heal by itself. Given the increasing use of harvester-forwarder systems in deciduous stands and research results that indicate possible damage to standing trees, it is necessary to pay attention to all phases of planning and execution of timber harvesting operations, thus minimising negative effects.

scholarly journals The Effect of Season of the Year on the Frequency and Degree of Damage during Commercial Thinning in Black Alder Stands in Poland

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Witold Grzywiński ◽  
Rafał Turowski ◽  
Bartłomiej Naskrent ◽  
Tomasz Jelonek ◽  
Arkadiusz Tomczak
Keyword(s):  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Black Alder ◽  
Damage Location ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Thinning Operations ◽  
Loading And Unloading ◽  
Degree Of Damage ◽  
Agricultural Tractor

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of season of the year on the frequency and degree of damage to residual trees caused during winter and summer timber harvesting operations in young alder stands. Analyses were conducted in pure black alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.) stands aged 38 and 40 years, located in north-eastern Poland. Chainsaw logging was performed in the cut-to-length (CTL) system, while timber was extracted using an agricultural tractor with a trailer with manual timber loading and unloading. Damage caused in the stand as a result of early thinning operations was evaluated in terms of: (1) damage location, (2) wound size, (3) wound depth, and (4) the distance of the damaged tree from the skid trail. Timber harvesting caused damage in 8.3% of trees remaining in the stand. Both the total number of damaged trees (p = 0.001) and the number of trees damaged during felling (p = 0.01) and extraction of timber (p < 0.001) were greater in summer than in winter. Irrespective of the season, two-thirds of all cases of damage were caused during timber extraction, with 67.7% of damage recorded on trunks or root collars and 32.3% on roots. Irrespective of the season and the technological operation, slightly over 50% of cases of damage were small wounds of max. 10 cm2. The proportions of medium-sized wounds (11–100 cm2) and large wounds (over 100 cm2) were comparable. The majority of damaged trees (85.1%) were found in the vicinity (<1 m) of the skid trails. The frequency of tree damage near the skid trail was twice as large in summer as in winter (p < 0.001).

scholarly journals Influence of thinning intensity and canopy type on Scots pine stand and growth dynamics in a mixed managed forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. e057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irantzu Primicia ◽  
Rubén Artázcoz ◽  
Juan-Bosco Imbert ◽  
Fernando Puertas ◽  
María-del-Carmen Traver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Beech Forest ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Canopy Type

Aim of the study: We analysed the effects of thinning intensity and canopy type on Scots pine growth and stand dynamics in a mixed Scots pine-beech forest. Area of the study: Western Pyrenees. Material and methods: Three thinning intensities were applied in 1999 (0, 20 and 30% basal area removed) and 2009 (0, 20 and 40%) on 9 plots. Within each plot, pure pine and mixed pine-beech patches are distinguished. All pine trees were inventoried in 1999, 2009 and 2014. The effects of treatments on the tree and stand structure variables (density, basal area, stand and tree volume), on the periodic annual increment in basal area and stand and tree volume, and on mortality rates, were analysed using linear mixed effects models. Main Results: The enhancement of tree growth was mainly noticeable after the second thinning. Growth rates following thinning were similar or higher in the moderate than in the severe thinning. Periodic stand volume annual increments were higher in the thinned than in the unthinned plots, but no differences were observed between the thinned treatments. We observed an increase in the differences of the Tree volume annual increment between canopy types (mixed < pure) over time in the unthinned plots, as beech crowns developed. Research highlights: Moderate thinning is suggested as an appropriate forest practice at early pine age in these mixed forests, since it produced higher tree growth rates than the severe thinning and it counteracted the negative effect of beech on pine growth observed in the unthinned plots.Keywords: competition; Fagus sylvatica L.; Pinus sylvestris L.; forest management; mortality; Mediterranean forest.

scholarly journals Assessing the effects of thinning on stem growth allocation of individual Scots pine trees

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninni Saarinen ◽  
Ville Kankare ◽  
Tuomas Yrttimaa ◽  
Niko Viljanen ◽  
Eija Honkavaara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Stem Growth ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Growth Effects ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Stem Shape ◽  
Shape And Size

AbstractForest management alters the growing conditions and thus further development of trees. However, quantitative assessment of forest management on tree growth has been demanding as methodologies for capturing changes comprehensively in space and time have been lacking. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has shown to be capable of providing three-dimensional (3D) tree stem reconstructions required for revealing differences between stem shapes and sizes. In this study, we used 3D reconstructions of tree stems from TLS and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to investigate how varying thinning treatments and the following growth effects affected stem shape and size of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees. The results showed that intensive thinning resulted in more stem volume and therefore total biomass allocation and carbon uptake compared to the moderate thinning. Relationship between tree height and diameter at breast height (i.e. slenderness) varied between both thinning intensity and type (i.e. from below and above) indicating differing response to thinning and allocation of stem growth of Scots pine trees. Furthermore, intensive thinning, especially from below, produced less variation in relative stem attributes characterizing stem shape and size. Thus, it can be concluded that thinning intensity, type, and the following growth effects have an impact on post-thinning stem shape and size of Scots pine trees. Our study presented detailed measurements on post-thinning stem growth of Scots pines that have been laborious or impracticable before the emergence of detailed 3D technologies. Moreover, the stem reconstructions from TLS and UAV provided variety of attributes characterizing stem shape and size that have not traditionally been feasible to obtain. The study demonstrated that detailed 3D technologies, such as TLS and UAV, provide information that can be used to generate new knowledge for supporting forest management and silviculture as well as improving ecological understanding of boreal forests.

scholarly journals Damage Characteristics in Young Douglas-Fir Stands from Commercial Thinning with Four Timber Harvesting Systems

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Sup Han ◽  
Loren D. Kellogg
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Root Damage ◽  
Damage Characteristics ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Scar Size ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Stand Damage ◽  
Total Damage

Abstract Damage to residual trees from commercial thinning was characterized and compared among four common harvesting systems in western Oregon: tractor, cut-to-length, skyline, and helicopter. Six young (30- to 50-yr-old) Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands with various residual densities were studied: Scarring was the most typical damage to crop trees, accounting for 90% of the total damage in most cases. Damage levels greatly decreased as the minimum scar size that defines damage was increased. Scarring by ground-based systems was more severe: scars were larger, and gouge and root damage were more prevalent than in skyline and helicopter systems. Damaged trees were concentrated within 15 ft of skid trails or skyline corridor centerlines. In the cut-to-length system, the harvester caused more wounding (70%) to crop trees than did the forwarder (30%), but forwarder scars were larger and sustained severe gouging. Recommendations for minimizing stand damage are included. West. J. Appl. For. 15(1):27-33.

Timber Harvesting by Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners in Western Oregon

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Cleaves ◽  
Max Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Natural Tendency ◽  
Nipf Owners ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Farm Ownership ◽  
Acquisition Method ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract A survey of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in Western Oregon was analyzed to gain insights about their harvesting activity. Past participation in harvesting, harvest type, and future intentions for harvest were related to ownership size, tenure, residence, form of organization, method of acquisition, occupation, age, and income. Thirty percent of the respondents reported harvesting at least once during the 1979-1989 period. Higher rates of harvest participation were found for larger ownership sizes, longer tenure, corporate organization, farm ownership, and higher personal income. At least some of the influence of size on reported participation came from the natural tendency of larger ownerships to have a greater variety of acres eligible for harvest. Ownership size combined with a variety of demographic factors--tenure, residence, form of organization, acquisition method, occupation, and income--influenced whether the harvest was a clearcut or a commercial thinning. Commercial thinning and thinning/clearcutting combination harvests were more common than clearcutting. Landowners were generally willing to harvest in the future; more than two-thirds of the NIPF acreage is controlled by owners with definite harvest plans. Owners who reported no intentions to harvest had little past harvesting activity. The predominance of thinning and other forms of partial cutting by smaller NIPF owners may indicate opportunities to improve the condition of NIPFs through assistance in selective cutting. West. J. Appl. For. 10(2):66-71.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document