The CRC for Forestry has carried out research that assessed harvesting residues from Australian logging sites.The research examined how different harvesting methods affected the quality and quantity of logging-residue. Sixteen sites across various Australian states were assessed. Harvesting methods investigated included cut-to-length (CTL) and full tree, and the species logged were Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens or Pinus radiata. The weight of residue was determined and the percentage of each component calculated.
The results showed that more logging residue remained on-site after CTL harvesting than full tree. Full tree systems left very little slash on site due to all above ground biomass being extracted. The species being logged did not have much influence on the amount of residue being left. Branches and stemwood comprised the largest component of infield pine logging residue, while leaves, twigs and branches formed the largest component of eucalypt residues. There was significant variation in the amount of residue left on each site, but the CTL systems clearly retained higher infield volumes of logging residue.
The title of the study was “Assessment of harvesting residues from different harvesting operation sites in Australia”, and was published as Bulletin 31 (September 2012). The author was Mohammad Ghaffariyan. For more information, contact Mohammad at ghafari901@yahoo.com or visit the CRC website at http://www.crcforestry.com.au/research/programme-three/index.html