Abstract
We conducted the preliminary time studies of clear-cutting operations using a small-scale cable logging system in 62- and 107-year-old, gently and moderately sloping Japanese cypress forests. The cycle times, productivities, and costs were compared to examine the effects of extending the cutting age. The operation system included the use of a chainsaw for felling, a tower yarder for yarding, a grapple loader for bunching and piling, and a processor. For some 107-year-old trees, a chainsaw was also used for delimbing operations because of the larger branches. The productivities of felling and processing operations did not decline beyond a certain stem volume even with chainsaw felling and the use of a small-sized processor (6.7 t). The average cycle time of yarding operations in the 107-year-old forest was longer, but the productivity was higher compared to the 62-year-old forest, owing to larger volumes. Although geography and stand conditions differed, productivity and costs of the operation systems were similar even with larger volumes and using small-sized machines. The costs of the operation systems were JPY 2088/m3 and JPY 2307/m3 in the 107- and 62-year-old forests, respectively. The costs were slightly higher than those with larger ground based machines. A small-scale cable logging system, on a relatively gentle slope with larger volumes is an option for low-cost, clear-cutting operations in small-scale forestry.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the staff of Utsunomiya University forest for providing the research opportunities. This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 16KK0168.
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Aruga, K., Yamada, T. & Yamamoto, T. Comparative Analyses of the Cycle Time, Productivity, and Cost Between 62- and 107-Year-Old Japanese Cypress Clear-Cutting Operations Using a Small-Scale Cable Logging System. Small-scale Forestry 18, 279–289 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-018-9412-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-018-9412-7