Machine performance and site disturbance in skidding on designated trails

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. For.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5613647

Olsen, E D; Seifert, J C.W.

Overstorey trees (predominantly western red cedar Thuja plicata) in a stand in Idaho were removed in 1981 using 4 machines and 2 methods: skidding whole trees on undesignated trails; and skidding tree lengths on trails designated in advance. A caterpillar 518 rubber-tyred skidder (RTS) handling whole trees on undesignated trails had the lowest cost and the highest production. An FMC 200 CA torsion-bar track machine (low ground pressure) was the most expensive because of high initial and operating costs, and high incidence of breakdowns. A caterpillar D6D rigid track, medium-horsepower crawler and an international TD-8E rigid track, low-horsepower crawler were intermediate in cost. Output was generally increased when tree lengths were skidded on designated trails. Again the RTS had the lowest cost, and the highest production on haulage distances up to about 900 feet. For longer haulage distances, the D6D hauled more tree-length logs on designated skid trails. For all machine types, 17% of the area of conventionally logged whole tree units and 9% of the units where tree-length logs were skidded on designated trails were calculated to be occupied by roads. Trail designation reduced machine damage to regeneration by about 5%. 3 references.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis
• OSTI ID: 5613647
• Journal Information: J. For.; (United States), Journal Name: J. For.; (United States) Vol. 82:6; ISSN JFUSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
COST
DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION X
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USA