The quality and availability of hardwood logging residue based on developed quality levels

Abstract

Hardwood logging residue was examined for salvageable quality material. Four quality levels (QL 1 to QL 4), based on four sets of specifications, were developed. The specifications used surface indicators, sweep, center decay, and piece size to determine quality. Twenty-six percent of the total logging residue (residue ≥ 4 inches in diameter outside bark at small end and ≥ 4 feet long, except if ≥ 2 feet long and ≥ 12 inches dob) from saw log only harvesting operations met the lowest of the four quality levels (QL 4). QL 4 could best be described as local use logs. The acceptability of residue at QL 4 increased to 36 percent if bolewood only was considered. Only 9 percent of the residue would be salvageable at the QL 1 level.

Citation

Timson, Floyd G. 1980. The quality and availability of hardwood logging residue based on developed quality levels. Res. Pap. NE-459. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 10p.