Substantiation of the Technological Process Parameters of Wood Skidding with a Mini Tractor in Increment Thinning

The paper considers the method of the mini tractor moving when skidding timber harvested during increment thinning. We analyzed the stand’s horizontal structure formed as a result of intraspecific competition, as well as the partnership relations of the trees forming microgroups, the distance between which is less than the average distance between trees in the stand. The structure and parameters of the most typical microgroups that form stands were also observed. This allows choosing a route for a mini tractor and successfully moving it between microgroups, where the distance between trees is larger than the average distance in the stand. The article shows an analysis of the mutual arrangement of the mini tractor and trees of the neighboring microgroups, in which the passage of the mini tractor with a trailed device causes significant damage risks to trees. Based on the analysis, the maneuvering algorithm for this transport system is designed and the restrictions on its entry into the target between the trees are formulated. It is shown that the entry of a mini-tractor into the target between the trees at a right angle provides the best conditions for crossing this area. The minimum turning radius of the transport system, comprising a mini-tractor with a trailed device, when moving under the stand canopy should be less than the radius of the majority of the microgroups that form the stand. The calculation of the strip width required for the passage of a mini-tractor with a trailed device when skidding logs with length 2–6 m in the case of increment thinning in stands of the Ia, I, II and III quality classes with thinning up to the relative density of 0.7. The paper shows the possibility of substantiating the length of logs when carrying out an increment thinning depending on the quality class and age of the stand. It is found that the mini tractor parameters and the logs length correspond to the formed stand density, ensuring the smooth maneuvering of the mini tractor with a trailed device when moving under the stand canopy. Guidelines for correcting the route when the width of the required strip is larger than the average distance between trees in the resulting stand are given. Acknowledgments: The article is based on the results of work on the topic “Ecological Aspects of Sustainable Nature Management” (state registration No. FEUG-2020-0013). For citation: Gerts E.F., Mekhrentsev A.V., Terinov N.N., Urazova A.F. Substantiation of the Technological Process Parameters of Wood Skidding with a Mini Tractor in Increment Thinning. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2022, no. 6, pp. 126–138. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2022-6-126-138