The Effect of Target Log Length on Log Recovery and Harvesting Cost: The Example of Short-Rotation Poplar Plantations

Log production is the main target of new short-rotation poplar plantations, and their profitability depends on maximizing log yield. The authors set up a controlled experiment to determine yield increase obtained by shortening length specification from 4 2 m, quantify additional cost incurred this change. indicated that reducing specifications allows significant (+40%) in low-yielding (<25 BDT ha?1) only. Such matched parallel harvesting (+33%) must be balanced against recovered value. Measures are suggested mitigate increment, such as: dual specifications, modifications forwarder load bay changing cut-to-length whole-tree harvesting.