Original scientific paper
Small Scale Mechanization of Thinning in Artificial Coniferous Plantation
Serena Savelli
; Department of Ecology and Sustainable Economic Development (DECOS), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università (Blocco E), 01100 Viterbo, ITALY
Raffaele Cavalli
; Department of Land and Agricultural and Forest Systems (TeSAF), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, ITALY
Sanzio Baldini
; Department of Environment and Forests (DAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, ITALY
Rodolfo Picchio
; Department of Environment and Forests (DAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, ITALY
Abstract
In Italy, where conventional forests have a protective rather than productive purpose, some silvicultural operations as first and second thinning could be carried out in an economic way adopting systems based on small scale mechanization. Authors tested a system based on small scale mechanization for bunching and skidding operations, using an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), a compact, agile and versatile vehicle that adapts well to dense and rather inaccessible forests, such as forests of artificial origin where no kind of intervention, particularly thinning, had ever been carried out. The vehicle was used for bunching, using an electric winch, and for skidding whole trees. The use of the ATV showed that it is a competitive vehicle with both traditional and cutting edge vehicles, performing a traction power average of 313 daN and PHS0 productivity variable from 1.20 to 3.05 td.m.h-1. Such figures confirm how in first thinning, on level ground but also on slopes (max 50%), over distances not exceeding 200 m, the ATV is a perfectly suitable vehicle. Furthermore, the impact of the vehicle on the ground and especially on the shallow soil horizons was negligible and had no effect on tree roots.
Keywords
Small scale forestry; All Terrain Vehicle; Thinning; Bunching; Skidding; Winch; Forest utilization
Hrčak ID:
56924
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2010.
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