Challenges in Mechanization Efforts of Small Diameter Eucalyptus Harvesting Operations with a Low Capacity Running Skyline Yarder in Southern China

Forests

Stephan Hoffmann¹  Dirk Jaeger¹  Siegmar Schoenherr¹  Bruce Talbot²  Michael Battaglia³ 

[1] University of Freiburg, Chair of Forest Operations, Werthmannstraße 6, 79085 Freiburg, Germany; E-Mails:;Department of Forestry and Forest Resources, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway, E-Mail:University of Freiburg, Chair of Forest Operations, Werthmannstraße 6, 79085 Freiburg, Germany;

关键词: timber harvesting;    cable yarding;    running skyline;    China;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f6092959

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This case study examines the performance of the Igland Hauler employed in small diameter Eucalyptus clear-cut operations in Guangxi, China. A yarding crew of eight persons was monitored by a snap back elemental time study for 19.23 SMH (scheduled machine hours), with 159 yarding cycles and a yarded log volume at landing of 49.4 m³ solid over bark. A gross-productivity of 2.50 m³/SMH and net-productivity of 5.06 m³/PMH₀ (productive machine hours excluding delay times) was achieved, leading to a machine utilization rate of 49.5%. The costs of the yarder and associated overhead as well as the personnel costs of a large crew with eight people sum up to extraction costs of 50.24 USD/m³. The high costs make it difficult to compete economically with the locally common manual extraction system as long as abundant labor at a low hourly rate is available in the region. Further performance improvement through skill development, but also technical and organizational system modification in conjunction with rising wages and decreasing labor force in rural primary production will determine the justification of employing such yarding systems. However, new silvicultural regimes with extended rotations and supply requirements of the forest products industry in China demand new operational systems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.