Productivity and Cost of Integrated Harvesting of Wood Chips and Sawlogs in Stand Conversion Operations
Open accessAbstract
This study evaluated the operational performance and cost of an integrated harvesting system that harvested sawlogs and biomass (i.e., energy wood chips) in stand conversion clearcut operations. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees were processed into sawlogs while whole trees of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), and sub-merchantable materials (small-diameter trees, tops and limbs) were fed directly into a chipper to produce biomass for energy production. A standard time study method was used to determine productivity and costs. Over 26 working days, the integrated system produced 1,316 bone-dry metric tonnes (BDTs) of sawlogs, and 5,415.89 BDT of chips, with an average moisture content of 43.2%. Using the joint products allocation costing method, the costs of the integrated system were $29.87/BDT for biomass and $4.26/BDT for sawlogs. Chipping utilization was as low as 41%, directly affecting production and cost of chipping operation. Single-lane, dirt, spur roads were the most costly road type to transport whole trees to a centralized processing site: transportation costs for biomass and sawlogs were increased by $0.08/BDT and $0.02/BDT, respectively, for every 50 meter increase in traveling distance. Diesel fuel price could raise total system cost for each product by $0.78/BDT and $0.08/BDT for each $0.10/liter increase.
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Integration of biomass harvesting into an active logging operation could reduce the cost of producing biomass by utilizing equipment already on site for multiple products and minimizing tree handling.
“Integration of biomass harvesting into an active logging operation could reduce the cost of producing biomass by utilizing the equipment that is already on site for multiple products and minimize the amount of tree handling [14].”
From Linking Federal Forest Restoration with Wood Utilization: Modeling Biomass Prices and Analyzing Forest Restoration Costs in the Northern Sierra Nevada (2021) · cites this paper as [14]
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Research works printed but not linked: 8
- H. S. Han, H. W. Lee, and L. R. Johnson, "Economic feasibility of an integrated harvesting system for small-diameter trees in southwest Idaho," Forest Products Journal, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 21-27, 2004.
- J. B. Hudson, C. P. Mitchell, and P. G. S. Storry, "Costing integrated harvesting systems," in Proceedings of the IEA/BA Task 6th Activity Integrated Harvesting Systems, J. B. Hudson, Ed., vol. 2, pp. 46-52, Aberdeen University Foestry Research Paper, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 1990.
- C. P. Mitchell, J. B. Hudson, D. N. A Gardner, P. G. S. Storry, and I. M. Gray, Wood Fuel Supply Strategies, vol. 1 of ETSU B1176-P1, Energy Technology Support Unit, Harwell, UK, 1990.
- S. Largo and H.-S. Han, "Economics of and integrated harvesting system in a fuel reduction thinning in western Montana," in Proceedings of the Council On Forest Engineering (COFE) Meeting, p. 6, Hot Springs, Ark, USA, July 2009.
- R. Spinelli and R. J. M. Visser, "Analyzing and estimating delays in wood chipping operations," Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 429-433, 2009.
- G. D. Puttock, "Estimating cost for integrated harvesting and related forest management activities," Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 73-79, 1995.
- E. D. Olsen, M. N. Hossain, and M. E. Miller, Statistical Comparison of Methods Used in Harvesting Work Studies, vol. 23, Oregon State University, Forest Research Laboratory, Research Contribution, 1998.
- W. T. Simpson, "Drying and control of moisture content and dimensional changes," in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, General Technical Reports FPL-GTR- 113, pp. 12-1-12-20, USDA Forest Service, 1999.
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Swezy, C., Bailey, J., & Chung, W. (2021) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en14092696 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Integration of biomass harvesting into an active logging operation could reduce the cost of producing biomass by utilizing the equipment that is already on site for multiple products and minimize the amount of tree handling [14].”
Background
- Authors
- Harrill, H., & Han, H.-S.
- Affiliations
- Cal Poly Humboldt (US)
- Corresponding author
- Harrill, Hunter
- ORCID
- Han, Han-Sup
- Venue
- International Journal of Forestry Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012
- Volume
- 2012
- Pages
- 1-10
- ISSN
- 1687-9368 (ISSN-L)
- 1687-9376
- OpenAlex
- W2010103539
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Forestry Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanics of Materials › Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Forestry › Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Forest Management and Policy
- Keywords
- wood chips, sawlogs, stand conversion, clear-cutting, Pseudotsuga menziesii, tanoak, biomass energy, harvesting productivity, transportation costs, diesel prices, whole-tree harvesting
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