- Title
- A fibre utilisation comparison of two harvesting systems in eucalyptus grandis in the Kwa-Zulu natal forestry region of South Africa
- Creator
- Nxumalo, Sikhumbuzo Khethukuthula
- Creator
- McEwan, Andrew
- Subject
- Eucalyptus grandis -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Harvesting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Date Issued
- 2017
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- Degree
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20592
- Identifier
- vital:29331
- Description
- Global timber demand is increasing as the level of technology continues to improve in many parts of the world. There needs to be more focus on renewable energy resources which will have a reduced negative impact on the environment. There is limited land area for timber plantations and this necessitates effective use of land from both an environmental and a commercial point of view. This research aimed at quantifying and comparing the fibre utilisation of two harvesting systems operating in Eucalyptus grandis pulpwood plantations. This was done using a general linear model, whereby the fibre loss areas were identified and used as the dependent variables, whilst diameter at breast height (DBH), site and harvesting systems were used as the independent variables. The research also aimed at determining the amount of fibre each system could recover, where fibre is lost or gained in each harvesting system and also whether one of the harvesting systems is able to recover more fibre than the other. The research investigated two harvesting systems in Eucalyptus grandis pulpwood plantations. These systems consisted of the full tree chain flail delimber debarker and chipper (FT CFDD&C) system and the cut-to-length (CTL) motor-manual system. These systems operated close to one another to ensure that the research was carried out on comparable paired plots. Two sites were identified to carry out research after a pilot study was done to test the feasibility. Using the FT CFDD&C system, trees were felled by means of a feller buncher. A grapple skidder was used for extraction to the landing, a chain flail delimber debarker (CFDD) for debarking and debranching and a roadside chipper for converting the boles into chips. The second CTL motor-manual system was modified into a tree length system to suit the conditions of the study due to infield chipping requiring longer lengths. Therefore, trees were felled with a chainsaw and debranched and topped infield before tree lengths were extracted to the landing site with the grapple skidder. The CFDD was used for debarking and the chipper converted boles into chips.
- Format
- xvi, 106 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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