Abstract
Mechanized harvesting systems provide higher quality products and safer operation environment than that of conventional systems. However, heavy harvesting equipment with rubber-tires generate deep ruts over forest soil, which causes several problems such as excessive delays in operations, serious impacts on physical properties of forest soil, and damages on tree roots. In order to overcome these problems, potential rut depth generated by harvesting equipment must be carefully estimated prior to harvesting system planning. In this study, a model was developed to estimate the rut dept resulted from a rubber-tired skidder. The accuracy of the model was tested in a field study where the results indicated an agreement with the results from the model. The model underestimated the rut depths with the average rate of 9%. The results indicated that reduced tire inflation pressure decreased the rut depths with the average rate of 11%. Besides, it was indicated that one of the main factors in formation of deep rut depths was the amount of wheel load. Keywords: Mechanized harvesting systems, Skidders, Rut depth.
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