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The Effects of Soil Moisture on Harvesting Operations in Populus spp. Plantations: Specific Focus on Costs, Energy Balance and GHG Emissions

Author

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  • Farzam Tavankar

    (Department of Forestry, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal 56817-31367, Iran)

  • Mehrdad Nikooy

    (Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara 96196-43619, Iran)

  • Francesco Latterini

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy)

  • Rachele Venanzi

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Leonardo Bianchini

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Rodolfo Picchio

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Background: Poplar tree plantations for wood production are part of a worldwide growing trend, especially in moist soil sites. Harvesting operations in moist sites such as poplar plantations require more study for detailed and increased knowledge on environmental and economic aspects and issues. Methods: In this study, the effects of soil moisture content (dry vs. moist) on productivity, cost, and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) caused by operations of different harvesting systems (chainsaw-skidder and harvester-forwarder) were evaluated in three poplar plantations (two in Italy and one in Iran). Results: The productivity (m 3 h −1 ) of both systems in the dry sites were significantly higher (20% to 30%) than those in the moist sites. Production costs (€ m −3 ) and GHG emissions (g m −3 ) of both systems in the dry sites were also significantly lower than those in the moist sites. The productivity of the harvester-forwarder system was about four times higher, and its production cost was 25% to 30% lower than that of the chainsaw-skidder system, but the calculated GHG emissions by harvester-forwarder system was 50–60% higher than by the chainsaw-skidder system. Conclusions: Logging operations are to be avoided where there are conditions of high soil moisture content (>20%). The result will be higher cost-effectiveness and a reduction in the emission of pollutants.

Suggested Citation

  • Farzam Tavankar & Mehrdad Nikooy & Francesco Latterini & Rachele Venanzi & Leonardo Bianchini & Rodolfo Picchio, 2021. "The Effects of Soil Moisture on Harvesting Operations in Populus spp. Plantations: Specific Focus on Costs, Energy Balance and GHG Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4863-:d:543845
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vanbeveren, Stefan P.P. & Spinelli, Raffaele & Eisenbies, Mark & Schweier, Janine & Mola-Yudego, Blas & Magagnotti, Natascia & Acuna, Mauricio & Dimitriou, Ioannis & Ceulemans, Reinhart, 2017. "Mechanised harvesting of short-rotation coppices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 90-104.
    2. Gokhan Ozkaya & Ceren Erdin, 2020. "Evaluation of Sustainable Forest and Air Quality Management and the Current Situation in Europe through Operation Research Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Rodolfo Picchio & Francesco Latterini & Piotr S. Mederski & Damiano Tocci & Rachele Venanzi & Walter Stefanoni & Luigi Pari, 2020. "Applications of GIS-Based Software to Improve the Sustainability of a Forwarding Operation in Central Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Hadi Sohrabi & Meghdad Jourgholami & Mohammad Jafari & Naghi Shabanian & Rachele Venanzi & Farzam Tavankar & Rodolfo Picchio, 2020. "Soil Recovery Assessment after Timber Harvesting Based on the Sustainable Forest Operation (SFO) Perspective in Iranian Temperate Forests," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Janine Schweier & Boško Blagojević & Rachele Venanzi & Francesco Latterini & Rodolfo Picchio, 2019. "Sustainability Assessment of Alternative Strip Clear Cutting Operations for Wood Chip Production in Renaturalization Management of Pine Stands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-26, August.
    6. Killian S. Lima & Ana C. Meira Castro & J. Santos Baptista & Ulisses Silva, 2020. "Wood-Logging Process Management in Eastern Amazonia (Brazil)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Rodolfo Picchio & Rachele Venanzi & Nicolò Di Marzio & Damiano Tocci & Farzam Tavankar, 2020. "A Comparative Analysis of Two Cable Yarder Technologies Performing Thinning Operations on a 33 Year Old Pine Plantation: A Potential Source of Wood for Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
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