WWW.NESUNGRANT.CORNELL.EDU
U.S. Department of
Transportation
Northeast Region
DETERMINING COSTS, PRODUCT RECOVERY FACTORS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FOR BIOMASS HARVEST
TREATMENTS IN NORTHEASTERN FORESTS
Dr. Marc McDill, Pennsylvania State University
The purpose of this work is to establish the initial study sites as part
of a future network of similar sites on which biomass harvesting
treatments are implemented and pre- and post-harvest ecological
variables are measured.
1. Assess costs, outputs and environmental conditions resulting
from four harvesting treatments likely to be applied in Pennsylvania forests: 1) a clearcut regeneration harvest in a mature sawtimber stand; 2) a first-cut shelterwood harvest in a mature stand; 3) a
high-grade harvest in a mature stand; and 4) an improvement thinning in an immature stand.
PI: Dr. Marc McDill
Pennsylvania State University
Forest Resource Management
Co-PI: Dr. Eric Zenner,
Pennsylvania State Univer-
sity, School of Forest Re-
2. ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS. Establish sample
sources, Silviculture
plots within each site on which pre- and post-harvest yield and ecological variables will be measured and compared both within and
among the different treatments. Variables measured and analyzed Funded: $99,825
will include: 1) soil compaction effects; 2) removal and retention of Start Date: 07/01/2008
macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg); 3) damage to residual trees and End Date: 06/30/2010
advanced regeneration; 4) overstory species composition and volumes; and, 5) understory species composition, density, and stem
quality.
3. ECONOMIC MEASUREMENTS. Measure harvest and transportation costs associated with biomass removal on each site. Observations will be made on: 1) mechanized
Source of Sun Grant Funding:
felling; 2) skidding; 3) chipping; 4) loading for United States Department of Transportation
off-site transportation; and, 5) transportation
Other Sources of Funding:
from the harvest site to the mill.
Pennsylvania State University