The impact of mechanical log surface damage on chip size uniformity during debranching and debarking Eucalyptus pulpwood logs using a single-grip harvester

Mechanised harvesting operations are becoming more prevalent in South Africa with the realisation that motormanual and manual harvesting operations pose significant health and safety risks to workers. The damage inflicted by single-grip harvester feed rollers and delimbing knives on log surfaces during debranching and debarking eucalypts, may affect eventual chip quality. Chip quality influences pulp quality and recovery in the kraft pulping process. This study investigates the influence of two mechanised debranching and debarking treatments on Eucalyptus pulp logs (threeand five-feed roller passes along the stem surface) by feed rollers and delimbing knives on chip uniformity, size and purity. The two mechanised treatments to three log classes (base, middle and top logs) were compared with chips produced from manually debarked logs. Manually debarked logs produced significantly less undesirable-sized chips than both three and five-pass processed logs. The volume of undesirablesized chips produced during chipping also increased with decreasing log size. Manually debarked logs produced chips with significantly less bark than three-pass-processed logs (0.008% vs 0.062%), and five-pass-processed logs produced chips with significantly less bark than three-pass-processed logs (0.018% vs 0.062%). Middle logs also produced chips with significantly less bark than base logs (0.016% vs 0.056%), and top logs produced chips with significantly less bark than base logs (0.017% vs 0.056%). In all cases the bark content on logs was considerably less than the maximum of 1.0% generally specified by kraft pulp mills.     

Fibre losses during debranching and debarking of Eucalyptus pulp logs using a single-grip harvester

Mechanised harvesting operations are becoming more prevalent in South Africa, with the realisation that motor- manual and manual harvesting operations pose significant health and safety risks to workers. However, the potential damage caused by single-grip harvester feed rollers and delimbing knives on the log surface during debranching and debarking of eucalypts pulp logs may negatively affect fibre recovery as opposed to manually debarked logs, which show little or no log surface damage. Compared with manual debarking, this study investi- gated the influence of two mechanised debarking treatments on wood fibre loss on eucalypt log assortments debarked by harvester head feed rollers and delimbing knives. The two mechanised debarking treatments consisted of three and five feed roller passes along the stem surface. In addition to quantifying the magnitude of this fibre loss, a financial evaluation was done to calculate the value of these losses. The three- and five-pass debarking treatments caused significant fibre losses of 1.425 green tonnes per hectare (gt ha?1) and 2.275 gt ha?1, respec- tively, as opposed to manually debarked logs, which produced no fibre losses. Wood fibre losses in terms of total potential (or available) wood mass for three- and five-pass mechanically debarked trees were 1.06% and 1.70%, respectively. These represent a fibre value loss of R441.75 ha?1 and R705.25 ha?1 for three- and five-pass operations, respectively. For the 6.48 million gt y?1 currently mechanically debarked for the South African pulp and paper industry, this equates to fibre value losses of R21.36 million and R34.10 million annually for three- and five-pass operations, respectively.     

Influence of Log Characteristics on Drum Debarking of Pulpwood

Properties of 200 poorly debarked softwood logs were studied in order to examine how different log characteristics affect drum debarking of mixed pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] pulpwood during the summer. The definition of a poorly debarked log and the sampling criterion was that >10 dm² bark remained on the log surface. The average share of poorly debarked logs was 8% and the most frequent log type was breakage logs. The main species among the poorly debarked logs was spruce and the mean wood moisture content was considerably lower than for the pulpwood chips. Many logs were affected by root rot or were damaged by harvesting equipment, resulting in reduced moisture content and, consequently, in increased bark/wood shear strength. Bark from the poorly debarked logs contributed to approximately 68% of the bark content in the chips. By avoiding air-drying of pulpwood, or by sorting pulpwood prior to debarking, the bark content in chips might be substantially reduced, which would improve the purity of the pulp and decrease production costs.     

Work quality and veneer value recovery of mechanised and manual log-making in Italian poplar plantations

In Italy, poplar plantations represent an important source of wood products, and especially of high-quality veneer logs. These plantations offer favourable conditions to the introduction of forest mechanisation, and especially easy access and industrial management. However, owners fear that mechanised log-making may cause value losses, due to poor length measurement, log surface damage and improper grading. This study compared the performance of manual and mechanised log-making on ten commercial operations, in order to determine the occurrence and the severity of possible value losses due to product degrade. The study found that length measurement errors are smaller for mechanised processing, while the frequency and severity of log surface damage are the same for both treatments. In three cases out of five, mechanised log-making extracted the same value from the stems as manual log-making: in the remaining two, differences were very small and went opposite directions. Significant differences were found between operators, stressing the importance of operator skills and motivation. In fact, the log-making specifications and the pricing structure applied to poplar processing are relatively simple and are unlikely to challenge the ability of personnel and equipment. At present, most Italian poplar growers are unaware of the potential offered by modern technology, whose intelligent use would boost value recovery and decrease harvesting cost. Significant benefits may derive from the introduction of optimised bucking, which may help shifting to a more articulated and rewarding product strategy.     

The importance of debarking in mitigating the leaching of pollutants from common Swedish tree species submerged in water

Sprinkling wood with water is a common method for protecting wood during storage, yet the polluted runoff generated by the log yard is a major drawback. To study bark’s ability to leach pollutants from logs, the Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, and Betula pubescens wood species were submerged with and without bark for 6?weeks. The water was analysed during the study for total organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, colour, pH, and distillable phenols. The results showed that the leaching from carefully debarked wood is lower than that of both gently debarked wood and intact wood. Storing carefully debarked logs is a viable method for reducing pollutants in log yard runoff.     

Veneer grades, recoveries, and values from 5-year-old eucalypt clones

Context

Processing young, small eucalypt logs into veneer is a burgeoning industry across southern China. However, plantations supplying these logs were mostly established for pulpwood; little information is available on variation and selection among commercial eucalypt clones/varieties in regards to suitability for veneer production.

Methods

Tree growth and log form were assessed on 11 eucalypt clones from a 5-year-old trial in southern China. Logs from these were rotary peeled for veneer; recovery percentages plus a range of quality and value traits were assessed on the outturn.

Results

Tree volumes, green veneer recovery ratios (%), veneer quality grades, log value, and value m^?3 varied significantly among both clones and log positions up the stem. The clone with the best veneer recovery ratio (50.5 %) provided nearly twice that of the poorest clone (28.4 %). Average veneer value log^?1 by clone ranged from RMB 6.7 (US$1) up to RMB 15.1 (US$2) and average value m^?3 by clone ranged from 589 RMB?m^?3 (US$88) up to 925 RMB?m^?3 (US$139). Overall, sweep was the key factor influencing veneer recovery ratio and value. Knots, especially dead knots, holes and splitting were major factors influencing veneer quality grade. Middle and upper logs had significantly higher veneer recoveries, grades, and values m^?3 than the lower logs.

Conclusions

Excellent potential exists for selecting among eucalypt clones, and even among log positions within trees, for optimizing veneer production.     

Long-term post-wildfire dynamics of coarse woody debris after salvage logging and implications for soil heating in dry forests of the eastern Cascades, Washington

Long-term effects of salvage logging on coarse woody debris were evaluated on four stand-replacing wildfires ages 1, 11, 17, and 35 years on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in the eastern Cascades of Washington. Total biomass averaged roughly 60 Mg ha⁻¹ across all sites, although the proportion of logs to snags increased over the chronosequence. Units that had been salvage logged had lower log biomass than unsalvaged units, except for the most recently burned site, where salvaged stands had higher log biomass. Mesic aspects had higher log biomass than dry aspects. Post-fire regeneration increased in density over time. In a complementary experiment, soils heating and surrogate-root mortality caused by burning of logs were measured to assess the potential site damage if fire was reintroduced in these forests. Experimentally burned logs produced lethal surface temperatures (60 °C) extending up to 10 cm laterally beyond the logs. Logs burned in late season produced higher surface temperatures than those burned in early season. Thermocouples buried at depth showed mean maximum temperatures exponentially declined with soil depth. Large logs, decayed logs, and those burned in late season caused higher soil temperatures than small logs, sound logs, and those burned in early season. Small diameter (1.25 cm), live Douglas-fir branch dowels, buried in soil and used as surrogates for small roots, indicated that cambial tissue was damaged to 10 cm depth and to 10 cm distance adjacent to burned logs. When lethal soil temperature zones were projected out to 10 cm from each log, lethal cover ranged up to 24.7% on unsalvaged portions of the oldest fire, almost twice the lethal cover on salvaged portions. Where prescribed fire is introduced to post-wildfire stands aged 20–30 years, effects of root heating from smoldering coarse woody debris will be minimized by burning in spring, at least on mesic sites. There may be some long-term advantages for managers if excessive coarse woody debris loads are reduced early in the post-wildfire period.     

Comparison of moisture distribution along radial direction in a log cross section of heartwood and mixed sapwood and heartwood during radio-frequency/vacuum drying

The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of moisture contents (MCs) along the radial direction during radio-frequency/vacuum (RF/V) drying of log cross sections of heartwood (HLC) where sapwood was removed from a green log cross section and log cross section of mixed sapwood and heartwood (MLC) prepared with debarked logs of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) and locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). For Japanese larch, an even distribution of MC was observed over the entire cross section in HLC not only at the initial stage of drying but also up to the completion of drying. Furthermore, the moisture gradient between the outermost slice and the adjacent inner slice was more gradual compared with that in MLC. For locust, the moisture gradient between the outermost slice and the adjacent inner slice became severe as drying progressed. It decreased after reaching the maximum during the middle stage of drying but continued until the late stage of drying. Furthermore, despite the fact that the average initial MC of mixed slice within MLC was higher compared with that in heartwood slice, this trend reversed immediately after drying started. It was suggested that the possibility of formation of border checking would be high during drying the MLC, since it would be so complicate that the sapwood and heartwood reach fiber saturation point together because of differences in their green MCs and permeability between them.     

Stress wave sorting of red maple logs for structural quality

Existing log grading procedures in the United States make only visual assessments of log quality. These procedures do not incorporate estimates of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of logs. It is questionable whether the visual grading procedures currently used for logs adequately assess the potential quality of structural products manufactured from them, especially those for which MOE is of primary concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of stress wave nondestructive evaluation techniques to sort red maple logs for the potential quality of lumber obtained from them. Ninety-five red maple logs were nondestructively evaluated using longitudinal stress wave techniques and sorted into four stress wave grades. The logs were then sawn into cants and lumber. The same procedure was used to obtain stress wave times in the cants and lumber. The lumber specimens were then dried and graded using a transverse vibration technique. The results of this study showed that good relationships existed between stress wave times measured in logs, cants, and the lumber produced from the logs. It was found that log stress wave grades have positive relationships with the lumber grades. Logs with high stress wave grades produced high-grade lumber. These findings indicate that the longitudinal stress wave technique has potential in sorting logs and cants for the production of high MOE products.The Forest Products Laboratory is maintained in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and it is therefore in the public domain and not subject to copyright.     

Effects of commercial thinning,log position in the stem,and cutting width on the surface quality of cants produced by a chipper-canter

Fifteen stems of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) of 3 commercial thinned plots (control, moderate, and intensive thinning) and 15 stems of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P), both coming from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region – Canada, were cross-cut into three 2.4?m length sections: bottom, middle, and top logs. Logs were processed with a chipper-canter at three cutting widths (12.7, 19.1, and 25.4?mm), producing chips and a three-faced cant. The middle section of the cant was used to evaluate surface quality across the grain on each face. Roughness and waviness parameters and depth of torn grain were recorded. Knot characteristics were assessed in the three cant faces. Poorer surface quality was found in the lower part compared to the upper part of the cant for both species. At larger cutting widths, jack pine logs coming from a natural stand showed lower surface quality compared to logs from thinned stands. Black spruce waviness increased with the cutting width and stem height. These results were attributed to the increase of forces and vibration when cutting at larger cutting widths, which was worsened by the presence of bigger, more numerous knots at the control plot and in the top logs. Black spruce had deeper torn grain compared to jack pine. Their differences in knot characteristics resulted in a maximum torn grain depth favored by the presence of more knots rather than by bigger knot size. Other knot characteristics, such as the position of the knots in the cant face, the insertion angle of the branch and the distribution of the knots around the log, should be studied to better understand the relationship between torn grain formation and knottiness.     

Analysis of variables influencing tree cork caliper in two consecutive cork extractions using cork growth index modelling

The influence of tree and stand variables, debarking intensity, and precipitation on the caliper of cork produced by a tree and on the evolution of cork caliper between consecutive cork extractions was researched. A total of 370 cork samples were collected in 23 permanent plots distributed across the cork production area in Portugal, covering a period from 1984 to 2010. Cork growth was evaluated using the cork growth index (cgi), defined as the radial width of the first eight complete years of cork growth after stripping. The differences in mean cgi at plot level between two consecutive cork growth periods (cgp) were assessed using nonparametric tests. A mixed model approach was used due to the nested structure of the data for modelling cgi value at tree level. The cgi of two consecutive cork extractions is linearly related at tree level. At plot level, the mean value of cgi decreased in 5 out of the 23 plots and increased in 2 plots for α = 0.05. The number of debarked branches and the variation of precipitation between two cgp were the variables that explained the largest part of the cgi evolution. However, significance of plot random parameters indicates that other variables are involved in the tree cgi evolution, pointing out to the need of further research. Tree size and precipitation during the cgp are related to the individual tree cgi. The effect of increasing stand density and debarking intensity on cork growth was not clear. Long term research based on permanent plot measurements and research trials is needed to clarify the impact of tree competition and debarking intensity.     

Integrated harvesting for conventional log and energy wood assortments: a case study in a pine plantation in Western Australia

Biomass or energy wood harvesting can be integrated with conventional log harvesting (saw log or pulpwood production) to allow more cost-effective energy wood supply. The efficiency of an integrated energy wood harvesting system was evaluated and compared with conventional log harvesting in a 32-year-old Pinus radiata plantation (radiata pine) located in south-west Western Australia. The harvesting system consisted of a harvester and a forwarder. The study included two treatments: a conventional log-harvesting operation where merchantable sawlogs and pulp logs were produced at the stump by the harvester and extracted by the forwarder; and an integrated energy wood operation where the harvester produced sawlogs, pulp logs and energy wood at the stump that were extracted by the forwarder. In the integrated energy wood harvesting plot, 37 m3 ha?1 of energy wood was extracted in addition to the sawlog and pulp log volumes. Extracting the additional energy wood reduced the productivity of the forwarder and increased the cost of extraction (AU$2.7?m?3) compared with the control plot (AU$2.2?m?3). Harvesting system cost was not significantly impacted, with a cost of AU$3.18?m?3 in the control plot and AU$3.23?m?3 in the integrated energy wood harvesting plot. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was a significant factor influencing the working time of the harvester, whereas load volume, extraction distance and extraction type (sawlog, pulp logs, and pulp log/energy wood) significantly impacted forwarding time. Increasing DBH resulted in longer working cycles for the harvester. Heavier loads and longer forwarding distances increased forwarding cycle time, while extracting sawlogs was least expensive and energy wood extraction was the most expensive. The marginal cost of the energy wood was approximately AU$10.2?m?3 (AU$7.0 extraction and AU$3.2 harvesting), which is about double the cost of the sawlogs. Additional material recovered in the integrated energy wood plot resulted in less residual residues on the plot (103.2 green metric tonnes per hectare [GMt ha?1]) than the control plot (144.2 GMt ha?1).     

木材化学保管方法的研究

对新伐巴尾松剥皮或不剥皮原木喷以多种化学药剂进行了防腐、防虫试验研究、证明杀虫效果较好的有辛硫磷、倍硫磷和林丹，防腐效果较好的有6781、6782、6783、6784、FCAP、AC3B等；其中6781、6782能使剥皮尾松原木露天存放二年材质完好如新。枫香和拟赤扬剥皮原木喷药后棚内干存效果较好，但露天存放效果较差。锯材（厚板）瞬浸处理后棚内干存一年不霉不腐。     

Economic analysis on log damage during logging operation in Caspian Forests

Waste wood was studied in an economic enterprise by logging, function, tree species and log size in four Caspian hardwood sites. Damaged logs were recorded with additional information obtained for the location, dimensions and type of damage. The data were analyzed statistically to determine significant differences of damage during logging process. The results indicated that animal harvesting systems cause more volume (40.5% of log volume) and value loss (89.5 $·m^?3) to logs than mechanized harvesting systems (13.9% and 6.0 $·m^?3), also bucking resulted in significantly more volume (9.9% of log volume) and value loss (5.5 $·m^?3) when compared to skidding (0.2% of log volume and 0.2 $·m^?3), decking (0.4% of log volume and 0.2 $·m^?3) and loading (0.2% of log’s volume and 0.3 $·m^?3) operations. Study showed that the processes of skidding, decking and loading of logs have very little impact on damage levels. Volume and value losses of damaged logs are not sensitive to tree species and log size. The information from the field study is important in creating new guidelines or training to help minimize hardwood log damage during the timber harvesting process.     

Effect of drying method as a pretreatment on CUAZ preservative impregnation in Japanese cedar logs

Green Japanese cedar logs 2 m in length and 18 cm in diameter were dried to a mean moisture content of less than 30% by either air drying or kiln drying. Dried logs were impregnated with copper azole (CUAZ) solution according to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A9002. Preservative absorption was calculated from the log weight before and after preservative impregnation. Impregnated logs were then dried in the air and cut at the center to determine preservative penetration. The penetration area was determined after visualizing the preservative with chrome azurol S. The visualized area indicated that the preservative solution penetrated into the sapwood portion of almost all the air-dried logs. However, the kiln-dried logs did not show full penetration into the sapwood portion. The visualized area of some kiln-dried sapwood showed a penetration value of less than 80%, which is the minimum requirement set by the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for sawn timber. Statistical analysis showed that penetration in the air-dried sapwood was significantly better than that in the kiln-dried sapwood. It was concluded that air drying is more favorable than kiln drying as the predrying method for CUAZ impregnation. On the other hand, preservative absorption was not affected by the drying method.     

Management tools for optimal allocation of wood fibre to conventional log and bio-energy markets in Ireland: a case study

A set of tools are described for optimal allocation of wood fibre at an operational planning level. These were applied to a case study in Ireland. Allocation was based on optimising net value recovery (delivered price minus harvesting and transportation costs) while meeting market demands and operational constraints (mainly crew capability and productivity limits). Two new models were developed to predict harvesting costs and transportation costs for Irish forest conditions. A new model was developed to link Sitka spruce biomass expansion factors to optimal log-making algorithms so that log and bio-energy product yields could be estimated for individual harvest areas. An existing operational allocation model based on a tabu search heuristic procedure was used. The case study included 16 forest harvest areas and 12 processing plants (saw logs, pallet logs, stakes, pulp, bio-energy slash bundles, etc.). New terrestrial lidar scanning procedures were used to obtain representative stem profiles from over 4,000 trees for the 16 forests. We demonstrated that optimal allocation of bio-energy and log products, while complex, can be achieved through the use of appropriate management tools.     

Potential biomass and logs from fire-hazard-reduction treatments in Southwest Oregon and Northern California

The FIA BioSum model was used to simulate three fire-hazard-reduction policies in an area comprising northern California, southwestern Oregon, and the east slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. The policy scenarios, all subject to a stand-scale fire-hazard-reduction effectiveness constraint, included maximize torching index improvement (Max TI), maximize net revenue recovery (Max NR), and minimize merchantable timber removal (Min Merch). Differences in the area treated under each scenario were considerable, ranging from 15 to 96% of the area for which effective treatments are technically feasible. For each scenario, weight, species, and source tree size of both dirty chips (hogfuel or biomass) and saw logs were estimated. The mix of species and sizes removed under each scenario was surprisingly similar, although the Min Merch scenario did remove more noncommercial species such as hardwoods and more saw logs in the midsize classes (10 to 16in. diameter at breast height (dbh); 25.4 to 40.6cm) than the other two scenarios. Saw logs accounted for 67 to 79% of the weight removed. Under all scenarios, the Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)/larch (Larix) and white woods (Picea spp., Tsuga spp, and Abies spp.) species groups accounted for nearly all of the saw logs removed. Tops and limbs of commercial species and noncommercial species accounted for most of the dirty chips. Stems of low value commercial conifers (7 to 16in; 17.8 to 40.6cm) were also an important source of dirty chips. Trees smaller than 7in. (17.8cm) dbh were a relatively minor component of the dirty chip mix.     

Effect of impact velocity on the fracture of wood as related to the mechanical pulping process

 The fiber separation step in refining is crucial for energy consumption in subsequent refining where the pulp properties are developed. The size reduction of chips during refining is dependent on refining intensity and chip strength. Factors affecting these two parameters are discussed in a literature review. The impact strength of chips and the break down of chips to separate fibers are also discussed. Specifically the effect of impact velocity on the fracture of wood has been studied by use of a falling weight impact tester. Samples were prepared from a freshly cut log of Norway spruce, Picea abies, and the impact strength was measured using an instrumented falling weight impact tester. An increase in impact velocity from about 2.7 to 4.8 m/s resulted in an increase in impact strength of about 50%. Received 23 August 1999     

Bryophytes and decaying wood in Hepatica site-type boreo-nemoral Pinus sylvestris forests in Southern Estonia

The aim of the study was to establish the amount of decaying wood (logs and stumps) in various groups of Hepatica site-type pine forests of different age and management intensity and to analyse the composition of bryophytes in dependence of these factors. The average volume of CWD in old unmanaged forests was 47.5 m³/ha, which is rather well comparable with respective estimations from Fennoscandia. Reduced human impact contributes positively to the amount of CWD. Diversity of log diameter classes and decay stages is larger in old forests. Altogether 73 bryophyte species were recorded, 65 species on logs and 55 on stumps. Species richness on stumps was higher in managed forests than in unmanaged ones. At the same time, the species having high indicator value for man-cut stumps are very common species in boreal forests and grow on other substrata as well. Species composition and ecological conditions differed between stumps and logs. Logs are more humid microhabitats than stumps, therefore the occurrence of hepatics is more frequent on them. According to species composition on decaying wood the old unmanaged forests distinguished from others. As the differences of substratum characteristics were notable between old and young forests, the stand age described a considerable part of species variance on logs.     

湖南省邓恩桉与柳桉高产纤维材引种培育研究进展

中国大多数桉树资源主要集中在较为温暖的沿海地区.目前在湖南和江西等华南和中南省份较为冷凉的内陆地区,通过选择一些合适的耐寒桉树品种,种植了一些规模不大的桉树人工示范林,这些示范林显示出了较好的适应性与丰产性.这些较为冷凉的内陆地区有着立地条件较为优越的适合人工林发展的广大林地.对于较冷地区,尤其是湖南省来说,通过分析所...