Efficiency of John Deere 1470D ECOIII Harvester in Poplar Plantations

This article presents the results of researching John Deere 1470DECO III harvester in clear cuttings of Populus×euramericana 'I-214' poplar trees in lowland regions. Four different methods of the harvester work were analyzed from the aspect of its movement direction and the number of trees that were cut from one standing point. Apart from that, the effect of forks on the harvester productivity was analyzed. Astudy of work and time was carried out in the research. Duration of the working operations was measured on the chronometer, by the time flowing method. The method of work had the most significant effect on the moving and the positioning time of the harvester, while the stem forking greatly affected the stem processing time. The differences in the time length of various felling operation phases affected the productivity that the harvester achieved in different methods of work. The average productivity ranges from 30.3 to 34.7 m^3/h, depending on the method of work. The harvester achieves the highest productivity when it moves backwards between two rows and cuts a stem in the row to the right and then in the row to the left, observed from the moving direction, while on its way back, it drives forward between the rows and cuts a stem from the row on the left first and then from the row on the right, observed from the moving direction. When this method is applied, the harvester productivity amounts to 34.7 m^3/h. Its productivity is significantly affected by stem dimensions, i.e. the increasing volume of timber wood decreases the time needed for the processing of one unit product.