The study represents results of productivity studies of mechanized ditch cleaning using Ponsse Fox harvester adapted to multi-tree handling H6 head in forest drainage systems managed by Joint stock company “Latvia state forests”. The aim of the study is to evaluate productivity of extraction of biomass from ditches depending on working method and to estimate factors affecting prime-cost of biofuel in mechanized harvesting. The study results demonstrate that the 2nd method (mechanized extraction of roundwood and following motor-manual cleaning of remaining vegetation) is the most efficient solution for mechanized cleaning of ditches. Benefits of the 2nd method are smaller costs of undergrowth removal and bigger output of solid biofuel. Ponsse Fox harvester demonstrated sufficient work quality and productivity in the trials; however, it would be wise to use heavier harvesters or caterpillar excavator based harvesters in ditch cleaning. Using the 2nd method, a harvester can extract about 227 ha of ditches (23,000 m3 ) annually.

The stump lifting trials were implemented in 5 forest compartments of the JSC ‘’Latvia state forest’’ Vidusdaugava, Rietumvidzeme, Zemgale and Ziemeļkurzeme forestries in autumn, 2012. Total extracted area was 3.5 ha, excluding control. Two stump extraction buckets were compared in these trials – CBI (made in Canada) and MCR-500 (made in Latvia). The scope of the study was to estimate if the prototype of the MCR-500 can compete with stump lifting buckets having positive feedback from industry. Considering that the CBI head cannot prepare soil, this operation was not done by the MCR-500 either. In total 1796 stumps were marked and their main parameters were taken in all trial areas. Extracted biomass was estimated theoretically using biomass expansion factors elaborated in Nordic countries. Allegro CX field computers with SDI software were used in time studies to obtain information about productivity and distribution of productive time in a work cycle. The study demonstrated that productivity of stump extraction with both stump lifting buckets did not differ significantly in 6 cases out of total 10 comparisons.

In the 30ies of the 20th century stump extraction was identified as one of the most prospective technologies of forest sector to secure deliveries of solid biofuel. Now we are returning to the same challenges having the same targets – to secure energy independence and competitiveness of forest sector. MCR 500 is the prototype of combined stump extraction and mounding bucket for caterpillar excavator produced in Latvia by the LSFRI Silava and engineering company Orvi SIA. The device is made for extraction of stumps with diameter up to 50 cm. Additional benefit of the device is its ability to prepare soil for the forest regeneration by making mounds. The article summarizes results of productivity trials of stump extraction using the MCR 500 head and following forwarding of the material. Data from earlier studies are used to characterize comminution and road transport of stumps and chips. In total 3.5 ha were extracted during the studies. A harvested amount of stumps was estimated using biomass equations. It will be updated in further comminution studies. Average stock of extractable biomass (stumps and coarse roots) on the experimental sites was 28 tons ha-1. Productivity of stump extraction was 2.4...3.4 tons per efficient hour. Consumption of efficient time for scarification of soil was 3.4...4.3 hours per ha. Forwarding took 30 min per load (2.6 tons per efficient working hour). Prime cost of chips according to biomass equations is 9.78 Ls LV mE-3, according to expert judgement based harvested stock is 6.38 Ls LV mE-3.

Tracked forwarders is one of the solutions for the forest soils with poor bearing capacity providing ability to use well-known technology for reasonable cost to improve accessibility of forest resources. Tracked forwarders are not common in forest nowadays and only a few models are produced serially. The ProSilva F2/2 is a new middle-class forwarder, whose frontal tracks are replaced with big tires, ensuring large contact surface, increased mobility of the machine and significantly reduced mass without loosing the load capacity (15 tonnes). The aim of the study was to evaluate productivity, soil impact and cost of the roundwood forwarding using the ProSilva F2/2. The study was conducted in Finland. Productivity (time per crane cycle, split into operations and loads), load size, depth of ruts and soil compaction were estimated during the study. According to the study results, the average productivity is 16 m**3 per hour (driving distance to a landing site 200 m, driving speed 2.8 km hE-1, average load 9.7 m**3). The productivity can be significantly increased by more efficient utilization of the load capacity and by using gripper with the tilt function. The length of ruts on peat soil (56 m haE-1) does not exceed the permitted threshold values in Latvia. The compaction of soil took place mainly in topsoil, no changes in soil density were observed in deeper soil layers. The prime cost of forwarding according to the preliminary estimates is 2.5 € mE-3 if the annual production is at least 62000 m**3. Utilization rate is important to keep forwarding cost low.

The aim of the study was to compare the productivity and logging costs using the small class harvester Vimek 404 T5 in thinning of birch plantations and young coniferous stands. It was found in the study that due to a lower fuel consumption, maintenance costs and initial investment, the cost of a working hour of the harvester Vimek 404 T5 is significantly smaller than the cost of a working hour of the middle class harvester. The study confirmed that Vimek 404 T5 is a suitable harvester for thinning in a birch plantation; the study also confirmed the previous conclusions about the main advantages of Vimek harvester compared to a middle class harvester in the first thinning – low fuel consumption and costs of maintenance, high productivity and equipment compactness, which allow to reduce the strip road area. The average productivity for Vimek 404 T5 in birch plantation was 6.2 m**3 per productive hour, but in young conifer stand the productivity was 4.9 m**3 per productive hour. The average stem volume in the birch plantation was 0.06 m**3, but in conifer stand 0.05 m**3. Productivity for the same dimension trees in the birch plantation is not significantly different from the data obtained in the thinning of the coniferous stands.

The study aims to find out the efficiency of periodic training of the harvester (cut-to-length) operator, using the automatically saved data of the harvesterʼs information system. It has been established that logging service providers and training institutions do not analyse the operatorʼs work before starting the training; therefore, the training is carried out according to certain, standard programs, without going into the previous performance of each trainee operator. The research uses data automatically saved by Ponsse harvesters during the year, obtained from Ponsse Manager. The study found that by using automatically saved data of the harvester information and performing data grouping with subsequent analysis, it is possible to determine the progress in the execution of specific stem processing operations and to identify operations where the instructor should pay increased attention during training. The research analysed the data of 3 operators, obtained while working with Ponsse harvesters in clear-cutting. In the study, it was found that operator A reduced stem processing time by 3%, labour productivity increased by 15%, and fuel consumption per l m⁻³ decreased by 14% over 3 months. Operator B, after training, saw a 20% reduction in stem processing time, a 13% increase in work productivity, and a 5% increase in fuel consumption l m⁻³ over 3 months. Operator C had a 10% increase in stem processing time, a 1% increase in labour productivity, and a 2% increase in fuel consumption l m³ after training.