Productivity of a harvesting operation for a small clear-cut block by direct grappling using a processor in the Kochi University Forest. Issue 3 (2nd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suzuki, Yasushi; Kusaka, Haruka; Yamaguchi, Yuki; Aoki, Haruka; Hayata, Yoshifumi; Nagai, Hirotaka
• Is Part Of: International journal of forest engineering. Volume 30:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 202
• Publication Date: 2019-09-02
• Subjects: Contemporary Japanese forestry -- half-mechanized logging operation -- vehicle-based machines -- motor-manual felling -- productivity improvement -- strip road; Forestry engineering -- Periodicals; Génie forestier -- Périodiques; Forestry engineering; Periodicals; 634.905
• DOI: 10.1080/14942119.2019.1574122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1913-2220

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A case study was analyzed on productivity of clear cutting conducted by novel logging machines in the Kochi University Forest. A small block (0.15 ha in average) has been clear-cut annually to prepare a practice planting site for the Forest Science Course students. Until 2015, harvesting operations were performed by a small-scale system, such as a winch-mounted mini-forwarder. However, in 2016 an updated system was introduced with a processor head equipped on a base machine of 0.25 m 3 bucket size-class and a forwarder with a 3 t loading capacity. A series of operations was conducted with this new system in November 2016, including cutting, logging, processing, bucking, and forwarding. The total productivity was evaluated at over 4 m 3 /person-day, a significant increase over the former system, at 2 m 3 /person-day. A critical factor in productivity was extraction by the processor, which was affected by the angle of felled trees relative to a strip road.