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Cut-to-length logging (CTL) is a mechanized harvesting system in which trees are delimbed and ''cut to length'' directly at the stump. CTL is typically a two-man, two-machine operation with a harvester felling, delimbing, and
Stump Grinder
{{Forestry Logging
Cut-to-length logging (CTL) is a mechanized harvesting system in which trees are delimbed and ''cut to length'' directly at the stump. CTL is typically a two-man, two-machine operation with a harvester felling, delimbing, and bucking
Bucking is a movement performed by an animal in which it lowers its head and raises its hindquarters into the air while kicking out with the hind legs. It is most commonly seen in herbivores such as equines, cattle, deer, goats, and sheep. Most ...
trees and a forwarder
A forwarder is a forestry vehicle that carries big felling, felled Timber, logs cut by a Harvester (forestry), harvester from the stump to a roadside landing for later acquisition. Forwarders can use rubber tires or tracks. Unlike a skidder, a ...
transporting the logs from the felling to a landing area close to a road accessible by truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport freight, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construct ...
s.
CTL is the primary logging method in European countries, while full-tree logging and the even older technique of tree-length logging are more popular in North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
and less developed countries, where tree sizes can exceed the capacity of the harvester's felling head, i.e., tree stems with a butt diameter of over 90 centimeters. CTL lends itself to timber harvesting in plantation forestry where stems are often harvested before they reach large dimensions.
Advantages compared to full-tree logging
*Cleaner wood since the logs are not skidded on the ground to the landing (in tree length more than full tree) *More fresh wood (in tree length more than full tree) *Less damage to retained trees inthinning
In agricultural sciences, thinning is the removal of some plants, or parts of plants, to make room for the growth of others. Selective removal of parts of a plant such as branches, buds, or roots is typically known as '' pruning''.
In forestry ...
operations
*Typically requires fewer types of machines in an operation
*No need to clear large landings close to the road
*Greater personnel safety due to enclosed/protected machine cabs
*More environmentally friendly due to:
**less soil
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...
disturbance than in skidding operations (if improper skidding practices take place)
**no slash
Slash may refer to:
* Slash (punctuation), the "/" character
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* Slash (Marvel Comics)
* Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'')
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dumped at the landing
**higher retention of foliar nutrients within the harvested area
Disadvantages compared to full-tree logging
*Somewhat higher capital cost pervolume
Volume is a measure of regions in three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch) ...
when used in large scale clear cuts
*Use of more advanced technology requires more operator knowledge and training
Cost
Thecapital cost {{no footnotes, date=December 2016
Capital costs are fixed, one-time expenses incurred on the purchase of land, buildings, construction, and equipment used in the production of goods or in the rendering of services. In other words, it is the total ...
s for a typical CTL operation, with one harvester and one forwarder, are quite high. The price of a pair of machines alone are approx. US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
1,000,000.
See also
*Logging truck
A logging truck or timber lorry is a large truck used to carry logs. Some have integrated flatbeds, some are discrete tractor units, and some are configured to spread a load between the tractor unit and a dollied trailer pulled behind it. Oft ...
References
External links
Stump Grinder
{{Forestry Logging