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Five new machines and six products can triple commodity recovery from southern forests

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Mixed southern pine-hardwood stands now yield 20 to 22 percent of their biomass in wood products. A new energy self-sufficient system using tree pullers, wet-fuel burners, mobile chippers, shaping-lathe headrigs, and continuous kilns can convert 67 percent of the biomass (above- and below-ground parts of trees of all species) into products worth about $150 per dry ton. Products of the system are pallets; dowel-laminated crossties (no adhesive); structural exterior flakeboard; sturctural lumber glue-laminated from veneer; studs; and hogged fuel fro plant energy. Composite structural panels or fiberboards could be made also. Application of the system could provide high returns to private landholders while halting incursion of low-grade hardwoods into the southern pinery.

Citation

Koch, P. 1978. Five new machines and six products can triple commodity recovery from southern forests. Journal of Forestry 76(12):767-772
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8145