NJ~~ CIRCULAR 133 JUNE 1959 1~: i i~R ,Y p,.~ ., Cost of CLEARING LAND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT THE ALABAMA STATION of POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE E. V. Smith Director Auburn, Alabama C O N T EN T S Page DESCRIPTION OF LAND CLEARED ........................ PROCEDURE OPERATIONS AND COST OF CLEARING------------------ . 4 6 8 Felling Piling -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ 8 - 10 12 13 ----------- Disposal of MaterialLand Preparation ACRES PER HOUR - 15 15 EFFECT OF COVER ON TIME AND COST .............. SUMMARY A CK N O WLED GM EN T .................................................................- 16 17 In order that the text content be readily understood, it is necessary at times to illustrate or use trade names of products or equipment rather than involved descriptions or complicated identifications. In some instances it is unavoidable that similar products on the market under other trade names are not cited. No endorsement of named products is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned. FIRST PRINTING 8M, JUNE 1959 Cost of CLEARING LAND comparative expenses with dozer and shearing blades on crawler- type tractors C. M. STOKES, Associate Agricultural J. H. YEAGER, Agricultural Economist Engineer MANY WOODED OR SEMI-WOODED AREAS are of low economic value to owners because of undesirable tree species. To reforest with desirable species or to change the use of such areas, serious problems are encountered. The major one is removal of present cover. In many cases it is not practical to plant desirable trees unless present cover is removed. Clearing land by hand methods is a laborious and time-consuming process. In most cases on commercial farms, several alternative opportunities exist for the use of labor. The use of large amounts of hand labor in clearing is costly with present farm or nonfarm wage rates and often only a limited amount of labor is available for such work. To be able to change the use of agricultural land (forest, pasture, or cropland) means greater flexibility. This permits land use adjustments by owners or operators to meet changing economic conditions. A low-cost method of clearing land is needed by farmers and operators. Likewise, such a method is important to land improvement contractors and to others who clear land prior to construction of highways, building sites, airports, and gas and power lines. Few data are available on costs of clearing land. Clearing costs are quite variable. Too, they cannot be applied from one location to another unless the many variables that affect these costs are considered. Among the more important variables affecting costs of clearing land are: (1) Cover (size, species, and density of trees and brush), (2) type of machinery and equipment used, (8) skill of machine operators, (4) topography (slope, configuration, stoniness), (5) soil type, and (6) soil moisture. Although many variables affect the physical requirements and costs of clearing, it is desirable to have basic data on inputs and costs. Such information is necessary in making estimates and in reaching decisions. These may involve size and kind of machines to use, method of clearing, and man labor requirements. In the final analysis, basic input and cost data are needed to help in getting the clearing done at the least cost. It was the objective of this experiment, results of which are reported herein, to design and carry out a land clearing test to obtain data on inputs and costs of clearing land with three sizes of crawlertype diesel tractors 1 and two types of blades. DESCRIPTION of LAND CLEARED The area on which the clearing test was conducted was located on a farm in southwestern Cherokee County in northeastern Alabama (Limestone Valley type-of-farming area). A level area of land with a fairly uniform cover of trees and brush was selected. It was estimated that the area was cut over for saw timber about 1948. Some old pine and a few large hardwood stumps remained on the area. The area selected was divided into 12 plots of 2 acres each, Figure 1. Alleys, 30 and 66 feet wide, were laid out with a transit and cleared. Each plot was 198 feet wide and 440 feet long. N -6 ((3) (7) (8) (9) D-6 440' 375 Trees/A 946 66' (4) (5) D-7 D-8 D-6 D-7 D-8 285 Trees/A 380 Trees/A 690 Trees/A 1,545 Trees/A 445 Trees/A (6) (10) (11) (12) D-6 585 Trees/A 198' D-7 680 Trees/A 30' D-8 755 Trees/A D-7 710 Trees/A 1338' D-8 410 Trees/A D-6 400 Trees/A FIGURE 1. Layout of 2-acre experimental plots in land clearing test using three sizes of tractors and two types of blades. Regular bulldozer blade was used in plots 1 through 6, and KG blade in plots 7 through 12. Note the number of trees per acre in each plot. 1 D-6, D-7, and D-8 Caterpillar tractors were used in this test. [4] Two sample areas of 0.1 acre each were selected at random within each of the 12, 2-acre blocks for making tree counts. Species of trees, number of trees 2 inches d.b.h. (diameter at breast height) and over, and number of sound stumps were recorded for each area. In general, the forest cover on the areas cleared was light. Based on tree counts in sample areas of each plot, the number of trees varied from 285 to 1,545 per acre, Figure 1. Plot 8, which occurred in a dense pine thicket, contained the greatest number of trees (based on counts in the sample areas). There was a dense population of small pine trees in the northern part of the plot, and numerous small pines were in plots 4, 5, and 10. (For percentage of pines on each plot, see Table 1.) As an average for all plots, 64 per cent of the trees 2 inches d.b.h. and over were hardwoods and 36 per cent were pines. Species of oak, hickory, and gum were the major hardwoods. Also, based on TABLE 1. PERCENTAGE OF HARDWOOD AND PINE TREES ON 2-ACRE EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS, CHEROKEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, 1958 Plot ------------ Hardwood Per cent 79 Pine Per cent 21 No. No . No. 1----- Total trees per acre Number 875 No. 2---- ---- ---- ---- --- N o. 3 ---- ------ ---- --- - -4 ...................... .................... 5---- ---- ---- ---- --- - 98 97 56 53 2 8 44 47 285 380 585 680 No. No. No. No. 6 ----- ----- ----- ---- 7---- --- --- --- --- -- 8---- ---- ---- ---- --- 9--------------- - 78 80 29 72 22 20 71 28 755 690 1,545 445 No. 10---- --- ----- No. 11---- --- --- --- --- - -No. 12 60 89 75 40 11 25 710 410 400 PERCENTAGE OF TREES ON EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS ACCORDING TABLE 2. DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT, CHEROKEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, 1958 To Plot Type of equipment used Bulldozer Bulldozer Bulldozer Bulldozer blade blade blade blade 2 in. to less than 6 in. d.b.h. Per cent 87 74 76 87 - 6 in. d.b.h. and over Per cent 13 26 24 13 No. No. No. No. 1 2 3 ------------------------------4 No. No. No. No. 5-.... 6 7 8 Bulldozer blade Bulldozer blade K-G blade K-G blade 93 87 86 98 7 13 14 2 No. 9 No. 10 No. 11 No. 12 -- K-G blade K-G blade K-G blade K-G blade [5] 82 98 72 76 18 2 28 24 counts in sample areas, 94 per cent of the pines and 84 per cent of the hardwoods were less than 6 inches d.b.h. On all except 4 plots, less than 20 per cent of the trees were 6 inches or over d.b.h., Table 2. The major soil type of the experimental area was Conasauga silt loam. Considerable organic matter existed in the upper 2 inches of soil. The subsoil was a mottled, yellow and grey, sticky plastic, compact clay. A small tract of gravelly silt loam was located in plots 4 and 5. PROCEDURE A bulldozer blade was used to clear the six plots in the western half of the area and the KG blade 2 was used for clearing the eastern half, Figure 2. Plots to be cleared with each size of tractor, D-6, D-7, and D-8, were assigned at random. Four machine operators were used throughout the clearing test. Operators rotated among machines every 80 minutes. The timekeeper with each machine recorded the time that work started and stopped. Although the operators used were experienced, rotation was practiced so that the time and cost of clearing would not be greatly affected by variation in skills of operators. Since three machines and four operators were used, each operator rested 30 minutes after 1.5 hours of work. Actual clearing was started November 6, 1958. Final harrowing of plots was completed 8 days later. During this period, less than 0.25 inch of rain fell on the experimental area. Pushing down or shearing off trees and piling were completed on each plot before the machine was moved to another plot. Actual operating time was recorded by timekeepers on prepared time record forms. Only minor delays caused by breakdowns were encountered. No delay time or time for changing operators was included in the data. To more fully compare the various sizes of tractors and types of blades used, a cost analysis was made, using the physical data obtained from the experiment. Details of cost calculations and hourly rates of charge for ownership and use of machines and blades are given in Appendix Table 1. 2 KG blade is the term used to refer to a land-clearing angle blade with a cutting edge parallel to the ground and a protruding point for splitting large trees. The KG blade used in these tests was manufactured by Rome Plow Co., Cedartown, Ga. [6] ap i, a i:- :i r f' ;'11~.: r:-I , r *-c. :a It i _ ~ rliEl~ ;i-*r :~. ~I~B:~ i *" '~4 -"~~ "" :- ~~ :~:ii~i~ :i;. :* 4 wX L 4 I '?rrt ii 'KI ' .:K pr _. _ ' ' 'P a 'La Fes: FIGURE 2. (Above) Bulldozer blade mounted on crawler-type tractor used in the experiment. Nate holes left after removal of stumps with dozer blade. (Below) Mounted KG blade used in land clearing test. I I1 OPERATIONS and COST of CLEARING The four steps in clearing, each of which is of interest from a time and cost standpoint, 3 were as follows: 1. Felling trees and brush-pushing over or digging out with the dozer blade, or shearing off with the KG blade. 2. Piling or windrowing-moving material to a windrow in the center of the plot. 3. Disposal-burning trees and brush. Some man labor, in addition to that of the machine operator, was required in starting fires. Also, in this test diesel fuel was used to facilitate burning of material in windrows. Tractors were used to push material together to keep it burning. This was included in disposal time and referred to as "punching up" time. 4. Harrowing-preparing land for planting. A disk plowing harrow 4 was used in this operation on each plot. Some land owners, custom operators, or contractors may omit this operation or find it unnecessary. Others may desire some plowing or preparation prior to seeding to pasture or some other crop, or planting trees. Felling In all cases the average time and cost of felling trees on the 2-acre plots and on a per-acre basis was less with the KG blade than with the dozer blade on tractors of the same size, Table 3. Average time per acre for the KG blade was 26, 32, and 22 per cent less than that for the dozer blade used on D-6, D-7, and D-8 tractors, respectively. Also, there was a significant relationship between size of tractor and time required in felling trees when the same type of blade was used. Use of the D-8 with dozer blade required about 41 per cent as much time to fell trees as did the D-6 with dozer blade. For KG blades, the difference in felling time between the large and small tractors was about the same. It was observed during felling operations that more time was required to fell large trees with a dozer than with a KG blade on the same size tractor. In using the dozer blade, it was necessary to excavate soil from around the base of the tree. As a result of this digging, considerable soil was moved to the windrow and sizeable 3 Detailed time and cost data for all operations or steps involved in clearing the experimental plots are reported in Appendix Table 2. *The disk harrowing plow used was manufactured by the Rome Plow Co., Cedartown, Ga. [8] O i ra ioui 1)-6 I)o i r (: l)o/( I) 7I) K(; IUoii -u KC t Pi i uuu. ln II .9 .5 .8 .55 ;I I .50r . .(il 0.9() .- 1)H I) 71 Iit sa 1.5SuI t ii ) Ii .61111 111 ! 5 .;t9: it,, i0 i iI5.' I I itt ihi i fit liiirii) 5: iiii " ~ ~ FIGURE 3. Trees sheared off and felled with the KG blode mounted on tractor. Piling Distance between windrows affects the time and cost of piling. In this experiment, the windrows were placed in the center of each 2-acre plot in a north-south direction. Since the plots were 198 feet wide, the maximum distance that material had to be pushed in piling was about 100 feet. The optimum distance to push material in the piling operation, according to reports from a number of machine operators, is somewhat less than 100 feet. The machine time for piling, Table 8, was somewhat less for the dozer than the KG blade with the D-6 and D-7 tractors. This was acre (dol.) A- Push Down or Shear and Pile 30 t/acre (dol.) B- Disposal 20 10 Tractor: D-6 D-7 D-8 Tractor: D-6 D-7 D-8 0 "' .~~, Blade: Dozer KG Tractor: D-6 ...... Dozer KG D-7 i i.. -- J Dozer KG D-8 0 ""T1 .. .... -1-fI Blade: Dozer KG Dozer KG Tractor: D-6 D-7 Dozer KG D-8 FIGURE 4. Average cost per acre of clearing land using three sizes of tractors and two types of blades in experiment in Cherokee County, Alabama; (A) pushing down or shearing off, and piling trees, brush, and stumps; (B) disposal of piled material; (C) plowing land with heavy harrow; and (D) total per acre cost of clearing experimental plots exclusive of harrowing. [ 10 ] )i)( if t dl Ii bld X II Iit viis ill ti le ite )IhII n))e I i i t w iudr/l FIGUR 5iP.hi Aboe Wmnow mpad ith bulldozer blade, a l tw)wrows mlad wih " K aude.Iiii" i acre of these two o)pieratins for thle dozer as comlpared tol tin' KG b~ilale ni thet lid~ 5:3.2 I foi samle size tractor wi aS lmlost 55.00( for the Dtile 6 old i)- I)-S. Disposal of Material Aftei tr((s anid brush51 \\ lie pllsile inito in 111155 in the eeiltlr ofI [ire wxas started at each1 cud1 ni tihi Xx inllroX\ wxith diiesel I nei o tihe (-rcl('I material. ( )ii thle D-) tracltor eqIniplpe( XXitl KC blade was Ilsed tn pulsh thl imaterial to" tiler or~ punch1 o~p. fires to keep tihem bu ~lriiig. If ai otllel Nize tiactor iladl heei Ils1(1 tit le and cost XX lli has he icc dhifferent ftiii tihat r(1porltdi h lie. \ftr Ho1(st of thle Ilaterili XXas hoi d.1( H iemail u the gs ,oII ld stomps11) that eunl ( inot 1)1 rediuedh eentic1Kall h \ bIiulli wer( b) nle on1 tile p~lots or pllshc off tihe arel. il Sollennl Ilabor 11)1 Xas 11 pIoi (( to rekiic lires1. ponliel A reeirdi wXas