Comparative Analysis of Site Preparation Costs of Poplar Plantations Establishment by Various Technological Schemes

摘要

cqvip:In this work, the costs for machinery and all means for site preparation of forest clearings for afforestation with intensivepoplar plantations were studied by applying various technological schemes. For this purpose, three technological schemes （TS1,TS2and TS3）, applying in Bulgaria, were studied. By applying the respective technological scheme, the site preparation was performedentirely with a milling aggregate PT-400, equipped with multifunctional forest tiller FAE-300/S. The processes of shredding stumps,mulching clearing debris and bushes, and primary tillage of the soil up to depth of 50 cm were examined. The survey was conductedin poplar clearings along the river Danube, over alluvial moderately moist soil. A new categorization of the poplar clearings isproposed depending on the operating conditions. The performance of the milling unit and the relative costs for labor, machinery andmeans for site preparation per unit area were defined. Depending on the category of poplar clearings, total cost for site preparationapplying the studied technology vary between 27.6 h/ha and 29.3 h/ha, which at current prices of 53.5 ∈/h for the operation of PT-400with FAE 300/S is between ∈1,478/ha and ∈1,569/ha. To conduct comparative analysis of the new technology and the oldtechnologies under similar operating conditions, the relatively costs for site preparation of the previously applied technologies whichuse rotary and tooth uprooter machines are defmed. According to the applied technological scheme and used machines in differentcategories, clearings costs for land preparation vary between ∈1,230/ha and ∈3,300/ha. Based on comparative analysis, it is designeda new technological scheme for afforestation with poplar plantations in riverside clearings, where by ensuring high quality work, thecosts for site preparation become lower （24.2-25.9 h/ha） and thus cost from ∈993/ha to 61,084/ha is achieved.