Recently, new models of operational harvester heads that are suitable for work in deciduous forests and are able to process hooked trees or trees originated from stump shots have been designed. | Research Article Turk J Agric For 36 (2012) 591-600 © TÜBİTAK doi: Comparison of harvester and motor-manual logging in intermediate cuttings of deciduous stands Remigijus ZINKEVIČIUS1, Dainius STEPONAVIČIUS1,*, Dalius VITUNSKAS2, Gintautas ČINGA2 1 Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Studentų Str. 15A, Akademija, LT-53362 Kaunas district - LITHUANIA 2 Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Ecology, Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Studentų Str. 11, Akademija, LT-53361 Kaunas district - LITHUANIA Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: Recently, new models of operational harvester heads that are suitable for work in deciduous forests and are able to process hooked trees or trees originated from stump shots have been designed. A mechanized harvesting method (harvester with head) is compared with conventional motor-manual harvesting methods in which a chain saw is used for felling, trimming, and crosscutting. Species composition of the sample stand was as follows: 58% aspen (Populus tremula), 19% lime (Tilia platyphyllos), 22% birch (Betula verrucosa), and 1% oak (Quercus robur). The study was completed under the aegis of the project of the 6th General Program of the EC. The labor efficiency was estimated using a time study method. Compared with common motor-manual harvesting, a UTC harvester with a CTL 40 HW head reduces the production time by about 70%. Depending on the number of timber assortments made per tree, operation of the harvester was from to 3 times more efficient than chain saw operation. Key words: Hardwood, harvester, harvester head, wood harvesting technology Introduction Conditions are favorable for the growth of trees in the Baltic States and so the diversity of tree species is high. The soils tend to be deep and rich, and the humidity allows the trees to develop high volumes of timber. For forest .
