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Advantages and Effectiveness of
Rollerchopping
Douglas Sorensen
Abstract-Rollerchopping is a mechanical method, using a 12-foot
wide drum encased with large blades, that can be used to remove
trees for improvement of site productivity. Advantages of
rollerchopping over other land-clearance methods include treating
slash, creating aesthetic sites, leaving soil undamaged, and leaving
selected strips, groups, or individual trees.
Thousands of acres of pinyon-juniper woodland have been
treated by removing trees in order to increase the watershed
qualities, produce livestock forage, and improve wildlife
habitat. Typically, these areas were anchor chained and
then seeded. Overtime, pinyon, juniper and sagebrush have
again increased site dominance. For many ofthese sites, the
ability to use fire as a treatment method is not feasible.
Rollerchopping is an effective, relatively inexpensive mechanical method that can be used to again improve site
productivity.
Rollerchopping can be done anytime the treatment site is
accessible and the soil will not be damaged by mechanical
action. Even light snows should not stop the treatment. As
with any mechanical treatment the site should not be worked
if excessive soil moisture is present that would adversely
impact the soil structure or cause rutting. Unlike prescribed
fire, treatment can be done during or immediately following
grazing. There is no need to rest the area before treatment.
Rollerchopping provides excellent control of pinyon, juniper
and sagebrush in the treated. area.
The treatment layout caD: be designed to leave strips,
groups or individual trees. The roller is maneuvered easily
between groups of trees or even leave selected individual
trees. The only limitation is the working width of the roller.
In areas where hiding cover, archeological sites or special
habitats must be preserved, rollerchopping has big advantages over other mechanical methods.
In high visibility areas rollerchopping can provide irregular boundaries that are visually pleasing and enhance
In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Stevens, Richard, comps. 1999. Proceedings:
ecology and management of pinyon-juniper communities within the Interior
West; 1997 September 15-18; Provo, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-9. Ogden, UT: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research
Station.
Douglas Sorensen is Rangeland Management Specialist, Beaver Ranger
District, Fishlake National Forest, P.O. Box E, Beaver, UT 84713.
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-9. 1999
wildlife habitats and cover. Pinyon and juniper are able to
out-compete the herbaceous vegetation for the limited water
and nutrients on the site. The effect of rollerchopping on the
vegetation is to crush and chop the brittle woody vegetation
in order to allow the existing residual vegetation to increase
its production. Because of the excellent seedbed preparation and water availability the site may be seeded to
augment the existing plant composition and improve the
site characteristics.
The rollerchopping treatment is very effective in treating
slash. The treatment does not leave piles or concentrations
of slash requiring later treatment. Crushing the woody
material greatly improves the water retention and availabilityon the treated area. The litter cover will reduce or prevent
overland flow and soil erosion. The water previously taken
up by the trees is readily available for the grasses and forbs.
Desirable browse, such as bitterbrush, sagebrush or
fourwing saltbrush can be avoided. Root sprouting species
are rejuvenated by the roller. On some sites, it may be
desirable to treat root-sprouting species.
The roller drum is 12 feet wide and 5 feet in diameter with
steel blades 1 inch thick by 10 inches high and 12 feet long.
The overall width is 14 feet. The roller weighs 16,000 pounds
empty and can be filled with over 800 gallons of water. The
replaceable blades will wear with use and must be replaced.
These blades are typically the cutting blade used on some
earth moving equipment.
The rollerchopping limitations are the standard working
limitations of the tractor. As a rule, steep slopes should be
avoided. Tree size is generally not a problem. The dozer will
push over larger trees for the roller to crush and chop.
Obviously, if a site has many large trees, anchor chaining
would be the preferred treatment.
The working speed ofthe roller varies with site conditions
such as slope, surface rock, and tractor horsepower. The
roller should be able to travel at 2 to 3 miles per hour on most
sites. At 3 miles per hour working speed, the roller can treat
about 4.5 acres per hour. The cost of treatment varies from
$25 to $30 per acre.
The grazing activity immediately before and following the
rollerchopping treatment will greatly infl uence the response
and long term productivity ofthe site. For maximum production and site improvement, rest the site from grazing at least
2 years following the treatment.
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