The effects of slash and stump removal on productivity and quality of forest regeneration operations—preliminary results

Abstract

Abstract The object of this study was to survey the effects of slash and stump removal on work productivity and work quality, as well as on the technology of forest regeneration operations. Site preparation and planting were studied in different conditions. Slash and stump treatments “removal” and “no removal” were established at each site. Time studies were made during site preparation and planting. The quality of mounding and planting was analysed by measurements of the seedlings. After slash removal, the increase of work productivity (E0) in mechanized planting was 18 per cent with a Bracke planting machine and 0 per cent with an Ecoplanter planting machine. The quality of mechanized planting was slightly improved by slash removal. After slash removal, the productivity (E0) of excavator-mounted mounders was 22 per cent higher with a mounding blade and 53 per cent higher with a ditching bucket. The quality of mounding was the same for both slash treatments. The productivity (E0) of three forwarder-mounted mounders was 5 per cent lower after slash removal, but at the same time the quality of the mounding was much better. In combined stump extraction and mounding, the time consumption of the mounding phase was about 40 per cent lower than for separate mounding after stump removal. The results show that slash and stump removal will improve work productivity and quality when using mechanized mounding and planting methods. In addition after slash and/or stump removal it may be possible and cost-effective to use new planting and site preparation methods based on forwarder-mounted mounders.