Effect of Day or Night and Cumulative Shift Time on the Frequency of Tree Damage during CTL Harvesting in Various Stand Conditions

Abstract

<jats:p>Thinning is one of the most important tools of forest management, although thinning operations require the use of machines which ultimately cause damage to the remaining stand. The level of damage largely depends on the human factor, and a tired, less focused operator will create more injuries in the forest. With this in mind, the objectives of this research were to find out whether the probability of tree damage caused by an operator is also affected by: (1) the part of the day (dawn/day/dusk/night), and (2) the cumulative shift time. The research was carried out in pure pine stands of different ages, density and thinning intensities. Sample plots were selected that had an increasing number of trees per hectare and growing thinning intensities were applied. The same Komatsu 931.1 harvester was used for the thinning operations in each stand. In all the age classes combined, 5.41% of the remaining trees were wounded. There was a significant influence of the part of the day on the percentage of damaged trees, which was positively correlated with the cumulative shift time. Stand conditions, such as age class and stand density, as well as thinning characteristics—thinning intensity, number of harvested trees and productivity—have different effects on the distribution of damage intensity and on probability. The results may improve the planning of operators’ work shifts in forests of various ages and densities, allowing harvester productivity to be maintained while at the same time inflicting the lowest possible level of damage.</jats:p>

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

“…However, not much attention has been directed towards soil moisture conditions and productivity. Studies were, however, conducted on soil impact related to logging activities [65][66][67][68].…”

The Impact of Season on Productivity and Time Consumption in Timber Harvesting from Young Alder Stands in Lowland Poland

“…In many cases, the potential for using heavy multipurpose machinery is restricted by difficult terrain conditions. Bembenek et al [16] reports that winters without snow and autumn rainfall can cause a shortening of the period in which it is possible to use forest machines, especially in stands with low load-bearing capacity. According to Grzywiński et al [15], it is particularly important to select the right season, technology, and work organisation, which can significantly reduce environmental damage.…”

Estimation of Productivity and Costs of Using a Track Mini-Harvester with a Stroke Head for the First Commercial Thinning of a Scots Pine Stand

“…Several authors pointed out that thinning young stands presents several dilemmas, including high operational costs, frequency of invasive trips involving various kinds of field machinery, tree damage [13,14], and mental stress on the harvester operator [15][16][17]. To improve its efficiency, new and more effective methods for harvesting are being sought [18,19].…”