The Effects of Soil Moisture on Harvesting Operations in Populus spp. Plantations: Specific Focus on Costs, Energy Balance and GHG Emissions

Farzam Tavankar, Mehrdad Nikooy, Francesco Latterini, Rachele Venanzi, Leonardo Bianchini and Rodolfo Picchio
Additional contact information
Farzam Tavankar: Department of Forestry, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal 56817-31367, Iran
Mehrdad Nikooy: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara 96196-43619, Iran
Francesco Latterini: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
Rachele Venanzi: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Leonardo Bianchini: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Rodolfo Picchio: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: Background: Poplar tree plantations for wood production are part of a worldwide growing trend, especially in moist soil sites. Harvesting operations in moist sites such as poplar plantations require more study for detailed and increased knowledge on environmental and economic aspects and issues. Methods: In this study, the effects of soil moisture content (dry vs. moist) on productivity, cost, and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) caused by operations of different harvesting systems (chainsaw-skidder and harvester-forwarder) were evaluated in three poplar plantations (two in Italy and one in Iran). Results: The productivity (m 3 h −1 ) of both systems in the dry sites were significantly higher (20% to 30%) than those in the moist sites. Production costs (€ m −3 ) and GHG emissions (g m −3 ) of both systems in the dry sites were also significantly lower than those in the moist sites. The productivity of the harvester-forwarder system was about four times higher, and its production cost was 25% to 30% lower than that of the chainsaw-skidder system, but the calculated GHG emissions by harvester-forwarder system was 50–60% higher than by the chainsaw-skidder system. Conclusions: Logging operations are to be avoided where there are conditions of high soil moisture content (>20%). The result will be higher cost-effectiveness and a reduction in the emission of pollutants.

Keywords: skidding productivity; logging cost analysis; harvesting site conditions; sustainable forest operations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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