Extracting whole short rotation trees with a skidder and a front-end loader

Abstract

We time-studied a Caterpillar 950F front-end loader and a Caterpillar 528 grapple skidder used to extract bunched whole trees to a landing in a short rotation Eucalyptus plantation. The loader was 40-60% more productive than the grapple skidder, depending on extraction distance. Alternatively, the single loader could both extract trees and handle the landing duties, such as moving residues from the flail-chipper, whereas the skidder required a second machine (skidder or small loader) to handle landing activities. Front-end loaders appear to be very promising as extraction devices for short rotation plantations where tree characteristics, terrain and soil conditions allow them to be used.

Keywords

Woody biomass, Short rotation plantations, Harvesting

Citation

Spinelli, R.; Hartsough, B.R. 2001. Extracting whole short rotation trees with a skidder and a front-end loader. Biomass and Bioenergy: 21 (2001) 425-431.