Ground Skidding and Harvested Stand Attributes

1
Ground Skidding and Harvested Stand Attributes
in Appalachian Hardwood Stands1 Andy Egan and
John Baumgras University of Maine and USDA Forest
Service, respectively

• Methods
• Thirty-three logging sites were randomly selected
  and visited.
• Time/motion, productivity, and stand data were
  collected.
• Skidder make and size were noted.

• Key findings Relationships
• Volume per cycle was not associated with skidder
  size.
• Residual stand damage was negatively associated
  with number of trees and volume skidded per
  cycle.
• Operations with larger skiddres (gt120hp) damaged
  more trees than those with smaller skidders.

Abstract A statewide logging-in-progress study
was conducted in West Virginia to examine the
associations among several ground skidding and
harvested stand attributes. The number of
residual trees per acre and number of trees per
acre in the preharvest stand were not significant
in explaining total skidding cycle time. In
addition, the number of trees and volume skidded
per cycle were positively associated with cycle
time, as were the number of bunching moves.
Results also suggested that differences in
operator behavior may be more important in
explaining the size of payloads per cycle than,
for example, the size of the skidder used.

• Key findings Time/motion
• Average cycle time 17.9 min. CV 50
• Average skidding distance 1,352 ft.
• Average volume per cycle 115ft3 (2.95 trees)

1 For more information ... Egan, A. and J.
Baumgras. In press. Ground skidding and harvested
stand attributes in Appalachian Hardwood stands.
Forest Products Journal.