Effect of short rotation coppice plantation on the performance and chips quality of a self-propelled harvester

• Working speed of modified forage harvester tested in different SRC plantations.
• Correlation between working speed and field yield using four regression models.
• Models predict operability of machine for a large range of yield levels.
• Quality of the work done and of the chips was assessed.

The performance of coppice harvesting machines is influenced by parameters such as field yield, the shape and size of the plantation and the space for turning at the headland. The quality of chips and the effect of the dendrometric characteristic of nine different species (Fraxinus angustifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix alba, Eucalyptus occidentalis, Populus nigra L. and four genotypes of Populus x euroamericana (Grimminge, Hoogvorst, Muur, Vesten) grown in the same flat plot of about 4.5 ha on the performance rate and quality of the work, was evaluated. Field yields ranged from 33 t ha−1 to ∼95 t ha−1, for the S. alba and E. occidentalis, respectively. The harvester worked with an average speed of 0.91 m s−1 (±0.22) and average productivities of 0.98 ha h−1 (±0.24) and 45.25 t h−1 (±5.56). There was a satisfactory linear correlation between the working speed of the machine and field yield. The quality of the chips showed some variability with values of moisture content ranging between 42.7% and 57.3% (for R. pseudoacacia and S. Alba respectively) and values of bulk density from 273 kg m−3 to 313 kg m−3 (for Populus euroamericana Vesten and E. occidentalis respectively).