Productivity of processing hardwood from coppice forests

Approximately half of the Italian forest area is classified as coppice forest, mostly managed for the production of firewood. Chestnut (Castanea sativaMill.) coppice stands make exception, as they also produce more valuable assortments, such as sawlogs, poles and fencing materials. Hence the significantly higher industrial activity in chestnut coppice stands, and the rapid introduction of mechanized harvesting. This study deals with four different harvester units used for processing (delimbing - bucking) chestnut trees fromcoppice stands, at the landing. For these four different machines, time studies were conducted in order to estimate productivity and compare the performance. The results show that the processors can reach high productivities (7.7m3/PMH0-19.8m3/PMH0). In one study the influence of tree form has been estimated, proving that the size of the branches and the shape of the stem have a significant effect on machine productivity. The difference can reach 2.3 m3/PMH0 for stems with a volume of 0.2 m3.