High-pruning of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.): work efficiency for target pruning as a function of tree species,pruning height,branch characteristics,pole saw type and operator |
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| Authors: | Jens Peter Skovsgaard Jacob Johan Mohr Markmann Giulia Attocchi Bruce Talbot |
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| Institution: | 1. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Alnarp, Swedenjps@slu.se;3. Frederikshavn Municipality, Natural Resources, Frederikshavn, Denmark;4. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Alnarp, Sweden;5. Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, ?s, Norway |
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| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to establish an operational model of productive work time per tree (work efficiency) for high-pruning of young European beech and pedunculate oak depending on tree species, pruning height, branch characteristics, pole saw type and operator. The final model included all of these independent variables with branch characteristics specified in terms of number of live branches and cross-sectional area of the thickest branch at the cut. Work time increased with increasing values of each of the three numeric variables. For a given pruning height the size of the largest branch was for all practical purposes more influential than the number of live branches. Beech took 28% longer to prune than oak. The German Ergo-Schnitt saw was 21% slower than the Japanese Silky Hayauchi saw. The variation in worker performance within our study was larger than that attributed to tree species and pruning equipment. |
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| Keywords: | High-pruning bottom-up pruning target pruning pole saw beech oak work efficiency |
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