ǂA ǂlow-investment option for the integrated semi-mechanized harvesting of small-scale, short-rotation Poplar plantations

Raffaele Spinelli (Avtor), Natascia Magagnotti (Avtor), Carolina Lombardini (Avtor), Matevž Mihelič (Avtor)

Povzetek

In recent years, industrial roundwood production has enjoyed a steady success due to the development of a new bioeconomy and the rapid structural changes of the wood market. A very promising new solution for industrial fiber crops is the integrated production of logs and biomass in short rotation poplar plantations. In Europe, the expansion of these crops is concentrated in the Eastern regions, where contractors face strict limitations in their capital availability: hence the interest in developing semi-mechanized, low-investment harvesting systems based on general-purpose equipment that may serve as a stop-gap solution to assist the transition to fully mechanized systems. This study focused on designing and testing such a system, based on two low-cost machines (an excavator with a grapple saw and a second-hand forwarder) and requiring a minimum workforce (two operators only). The system was tested for productivity, cost and work quality, under two variants: production of 2 or 4 m logs. This system can produce approximately 3 loads (90 t) per day, at a cost between 14.5 and 16 % t%1, from stump to roadside landing, ready for loading and transportation. The 4 m log variant was more efficient, resulting in a 10% cost reduction around 1.5 % t%1. However, log yield was relatively low: between 1/3 and 1/4 of the total harvest, the balance consisting of lower-value biomass. The 2 m log treatment offered a higher log yield. The introduction of simple technology may allow increasing log yield and should be the subject of future research.

Ključne besede

logging;felling;productivity;cost;effciency;investment;

Podatki

Jezik:	Angleški jezik
Leto izida:	2021
Tipologija:	1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
Organizacija:	UL BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
UDK:	630*3
COBISS:	28694787
ISSN:	1873-7617
Št. ogledov:	335
Št. prenosov:	136
Ocena:	0 (0 glasov)
Metapodatki:

Ostali podatki

Sekundarni jezik:	Slovenski jezik
Sekundarne ključne besede:	sečnja;produktivnost;stroški;učinkovitost;naložbe;
Vrsta dela (COBISS):	Članek v reviji
Konec prepovedi (OpenAIRE):	2021-07-28
Strani:	str. 59-72
Letnik:	ǂVol. ǂ20
Zvezek:	ǂiss. ǂ1
Čas izdaje:	2021
DOI:	10.1007/s11842-020-09456-3
ID:	12044768