Comparison of Single-Grip Harvester Productivity in Clear- and Shelterwood Cutting

An increased interest in the use of shelterwood stands to promote regeneration has led to an interest in how single-grip harvester productivity is affected by shelterwood cutting compared to clearcutting. A comparative time study of a large single-grip harvester was made in a spruce stand in northern Sweden. Three treatments were used. Shelterwood cutting leaving: 1) a sparse stand, 2) a dense residual stand, and 3) clearcut†ing. Each treatment was replicated three times. Results show that productivity decreases from 64 m3 per effective hour in clearcutting to 54 and 41 m3 per effective hour when shelterwoods with 259 and 381 stems ha−1, respectively, were retained.