Impact of assortiments' structure on harvesting productivity and costs of pre-commercial thinning
2014
Kaleja, S., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia) | Lazdins, A., Forest Sector Competence Centre, SIA, Riga (Latvia) - MNKC | Zimelis, A., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia)
The study aims to find productivity of biofuel production in pre-commercial thinning, depending on the structure of assortments and to identify factors that influence the cost of mechanized tending of young stands. Five work methods were compared in the study, starting from standard thinning (production of sawn timber, pulpwood and firewood) with no use of accumulating device and finalizing with the biofuel method – no other assortments except biofuel are produced and the most intense use of accumulating device is considered. Accumulating device is not used for production of standard round-wood assortments. The experiments were implemented in February – March, 2013. The material produced in the study was used by ‘Graanul Pellets’ company to evaluate possibilities to use timber extracted in pre-commercial thinning of coniferous stands in production of premium class pellets. The average productivity in different stands is statistically different. The study shows that productivity of harvesting is 3.7 … 5.1 m**3 hE-1, which can be increased by more intensive use of accumulation. No difference found between work methods in forwarding trials, but productivity grows with increase of share of firewood. Average loading time 26 min, unloading 3.6 min, average load 6.0 m**3 . Prime-cost calculation shows that harvesting costs depending on the working method is in the range of 22.4 … 26.5 EUR mE-3. Comparison of potential expenses and incomes demonstrates that economically the most efficient is production of traditional assortments (sawn wood, small size sawn wood, pulp wood and firewood) with an active use of accumulating function.
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