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Journal article
A cost-benefit analysis of pre-sorting using a feller-buncher in underdeveloped short rotation poplar plantations
International Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol.34(1), pp.90-99
2023
Abstract
Underdeveloped tree crops (⩽ 30 bone-dry tons ha−1) offer a main harvest of biomass-trees, which lack the size and the form for producing a log. However, about 1/3 of the available stems may yield at least one log, which could significantly increase the overall value of the harvest. Under those circumstances, it may make sense to sort log-trees from biomass-trees at an early stage, rather than having a harvester or a processor go through all of the treesonly to toss almost 70 out of 100 trees into the biomass pile. The Authors set up a controlled experiment to quantify the eventual benefit obtained by early pre-sorting, performed by the feller-buncher. Pre-sorting resulted in a 15% productivity loss for the feller-buncher, which was repaid by a 100% productivity increase for the processor. Considering the different hourly cost of the two machines, three Euros were saved for each additional Euro invested in pre-sorting. Pre-sorting made whole-tree harvesting (WTH) a significantly cheaper option than cut-to-length (CTL) , whereas the two systems would be almost equally expensive when no pre-sorting was applied. Pre-sorting would also facilitate multiple-tree delimbing, implemented through the introduction of a chainflail; that is likely to further reduce harvesting cost, returning financial viability to the harvesting of underdeveloped plantations.
Details
- Title
- A cost-benefit analysis of pre-sorting using a feller-buncher in underdeveloped short rotation poplar plantations
- Authors
- Raffaele Spinelli (Author) - Institute of BioEconomyNatascia Magagnotti (Author) - Institute of BioEconomyBarnabáš Kováč (Author) - IKEA Industry SlovakiaPatrik Heger (Author) - IKEA Industry SlovakiaDavid Heilig (Author) - University of SopronBálint Heil (Author) - University of SopronGábor Kovács (Author) - University of SopronMatevž Mihelič (Author) - University of Ljubljana
- Publication details
- International Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol.34(1), pp.90-99
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Inc.
- DOI
- 10.1080/14942119.2022.2107863
- ISSN
- 1913-2220
- Organisation Unit
- Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99700598902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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