Abstract
Forests in Korea are mainly located in steep mountainous areas, where small-shovel-based extraction technology is widely used, with the level of mechanization undoubtedly low due to financial limitations. On this steep terrain, a better approach may be to use cable yarders, which can offer high revenues through cable-based extraction. Therefore, improving the efficiency of cable yarding activities in good-quality timber forests is necessary. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the productivity and cost of a cable yarder operation for tree-length clearcut treatment of a Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. stand and (2) compare the productivity efficiency of two yarder (K301-4 and HAM300) types. The productivity rates of the K301-4 ranged from 10.2 to 12.5 m3/productive machine hours, with corresponding costs of US $12.6–15.4 /m3. The productivity of the HAM300 was 26% lower than that of the K301-4 for a 30% lower cycle log volume while yarding and a comparable lateral distance. This study provides insights to support production and management decisions in the forest supply chain associated with planning cable-yarding operations.
Highlights
Commercial planting of deciduous needle conifer species, primarily the Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr., known as the Japanese larch (about 14,000 hectares in 2018, representing 30% of the total coniferous plantation area), is important due to its sustainable economic value in South Korea [1]
Our results show that the K301-4 required substantially more time for a cycle than the HAM300 because it involved a higher yarding distance and cycle log volume
The productivity and costs slightly differed between the harvest units, ranging from 2 to 9% (Table 4), but these values were lower than those for the K301-4 tests
Summary
Commercial planting of deciduous needle conifer species, primarily the Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr., known as the Japanese larch (about 14,000 hectares (ha) in 2018, representing 30% of the total coniferous plantation area), is important due to its sustainable economic value in South Korea (hereafter Korea) [1]. TThheessee ssttuuddiieess iinnvvoollvvee uunnddeerrssttaannddiinngg tthhee eeffifficciieennccyy ooff ccaabbllee--bbaasseedd eexxttrraaccttiioonn tteecchhnnoollooggiieess [[1133,,1144]],, ddeecciissiioonn--mmaakkiinngg [[88,,1155]] aanndd ccoommppiilliinngg production models [16]. In most of these studies, the ssimulations are ggeennerally based on empirical data. Delay-free cycle times (DCT) data were used to construct productivity simulation models for evaluating the cable yarding activities of TL harvesting. To compare the performances of the yarders, the DCT changes were converted to productivity and cost patterns for different yarder activities This test aided in understanding the impacts of these independent variables on the maximum productivity and least cost
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
