Productivity and cost of conventional understory biomass harvesting systems

Abstract

Conventional harvesting equipment was tested for removing forest understory biomass (energywood) for use as fuel. Two types of systems were tested--a one-pass system and a two-pass system. In the one-pass system, the energywood and pulpwood were harvested simultaneously. In the two-pass system, the energywood was harvested in a first pass through the stand, and the pulpwood was harvested iris second pass. These systems were tested over a range of understory biomass amounts. Equations were developed to estimate the cost per green ton of energywood. The two-pass system exhibited high harvesting costs when biomass amounts were low, but costs moderated as biomass amounts increased. The one-pass system harvesting costs were not sensitive to the amount of energywood present.

Citation

Miller, Douglas E.; Straka, Thomas J.; Stokes, Bryce J.; Watson, William. 1987. Productivity and cost of conventional understory biomass harvesting systems. For. Prod. J. 37(5): 39-43.