A cost-benefit analysis of pre-sorting using a feller-buncher in underdeveloped short rotation poplar plantations

Underdeveloped tree crops (? 30 bone-dry tons ha?1) offer a main harvest of biomass-trees, which lack the size and form for producing log. However, about 1/3 available stems may yield at least one log, could significantly increase overall value harvest. Under those circumstances, it make sense to sort log-trees from biomass-trees an early stage, rather than having harvester or processor go through all treesonly toss almost 70 out 100 trees into biomass pile. The Authors set up controlled experiment quantify eventual benefit obtained by pre-sorting, performed feller-buncher. Pre-sorting resulted in 15% productivity loss feller-buncher, was repaid 100% processor. Considering different hourly cost two machines, three Euros were saved each additional Euro invested pre-sorting. made whole-tree harvesting (WTH) cheaper option cut-to-length (CTL) , whereas systems would be equally expensive when no pre-sorting applied. also facilitate multiple-tree delimbing, implemented introduction chainflail; that is likely further reduce cost, returning financial viability underdeveloped plantations.