Title: Production economics of harvesting young hardwood stands in central Appalachia

Author: Li, Yaoxiang; Wang, Jingxin; Miller, Gary W.; McNeel, Joe

Year: 2004

Publication: In: Proceedings of the 27th annual meeting of the council on forest engineering; 2004 April 28-30; Hot Springs, AR. Corvallis, OR: Council on Forest Engineering: 21-26.

Abstract: Three harvesting systems of chainsaw/cable skidder, fell-buncher/grapple skidder, and harvester/forwarder were simulated in harvesting three hardwood stands of 30 to 50 years old in central Appalachia. Stands were generated by using a stand generator and harvesting prescriptions included clearcut, shelterwood cut, selective cut, diameter limit cut, and crop tree release cut. The interactions among stands, harvest prescriptions, and harvesting systems were evaluated in terms of production/cost, and traffic intensity. Results should be useful for planners, loggers, and foresters to efficiently manage and utilize small diameter materials in the region.