Performance Comparison for Two Cable Extraction Machines in a Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. Plantation

Seung-An Baek, Koo-Hyun Cho and Eunjai Lee
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Seung-An Baek: Forest Technology and Management Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 11186, Korea
Koo-Hyun Cho: Forest Technology and Management Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 11186, Korea
Eunjai Lee: Forest Technology and Management Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 11186, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-10

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 m 3 /productive machine hours, with corresponding costs of US $12.6–15.4 /m 3 . 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.

Keywords: clearcut harvesting; tree-length logging; cable yarder; time study technique; efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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