General productivity model for single grip harvesters in Australian eucalypt plantations

Abstract

ABSTRACTAustralia’s eucalypt plantation estate (>900 000 ha) has largely been established since 1995. The main species is Eucalyptus globulus producing wood chips for export on a short rotation (~10 years). Two main harvesting methods are used: cut-to-length (CTL) at the stump and infield chipping (IFC). CTL harvesting is typically carried out with single-grip harvesters and forwarders. The study objective was to develop a general productivity model for medium-sized single-grip harvesters performing CTL harvesting at the stump in short-rotation E. globulus plantations under typical Australian operating conditions, as few harvester productivity models have been developed for these plantations. The model was developed from 47 harvester productivity studies carried out in Australian E. globulus plantations. Studies were predominantly short-term counts of the trees cut over at least an hour multiplied by an estimate of mean merchantable tree volume derived from inventory plots measured where the harvester was about to work or an adjacent area. The model developed explained 80% of the variability in harvester productivity (79% was explained by mean tree volume and 1% by harvester engine power). Results from comparable published CTL eucalypt studies generally supported the model. The strength of the relationship suggests the model could be used to estimate harvester productivity for similar site conditions and harvester/harvester head combinations (which represent most Australian E. globulus plantations) where mean merchantable tree volume and harvester engine power were known or estimated.