Abstract
Grapple skidder is a machine designed for the extraction of tree bunches after felling. Several factors influence its technical performance and costs such as terrain slope, operator experience time, machine type, and the size of tree bunches for each operating cycle, among others. Thus, it becomes necessary to weigh the variables that most influence the productivity and costs of the grapple skidder. So, the main objective was evaluated according to the influence of bunch size using two feller bunchers with distinct technical characteristics, two slope classes and two skidding areas on the productivity and machine production cost in a Eucalyptus plantation. For the analysis of the productivity, the study of time and method was applied and the scheduled machine cost per hour was based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations methods. When analyzing the results, it was found that the operational elements moving without load (MWoL) and moving with load (MWL) were the ones that spend the most time in the operational cycle of the grapple skidder. Among the cost components, monetary expenditure on fuel and operator labor were the most influential in the scheduled machine cost per hour. In conclusion, the tree bunches and slope class influenced the productivity and, consequently, the cost of the skidding operation.
Highlights
The use of mechanization in wood harvesting was an important advance for the forestry sector, which allowed better working conditions for operators, increased productivity and reduced costs
No significant differences were found, indicating that the skidding area composed of tree bunches referring to the three and four lines working area performed by the feller-bunchers did not affect the performance of the grapple skidder operational elements under the different operating conditions evaluated
Regarding the impact of slope class on the time of realization of the operational elements: statistically significant differences (p
Summary
The use of mechanization in wood harvesting was an important advance for the forestry sector, which allowed better working conditions for operators, increased productivity and reduced costs. It can be observed that the mechanization of the wood harvesting activity goes through major inno vations and technological advances (Simões et al 2014, Di Fulvio et al 2017, Kaakkurivaara and Kaakkurivaara 2018), but for this to occur, it is important to under-. Changes are often observed, culminating in the evolution of forest operations, differences in machine production costs may occur due to machine models or wood harvesting methods applied. The grapple skidder transports trees from a felling area to the roadside or into an intermediate yard, being a versatile machine that allows great mobility
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