Utilization of woody pruning residues of apple trees

Abstract Utilize agricultural residues from pruning brings many advantages including employment, social and economic benefit, rural development, natural forest protection, increased energy efficiency, and lower costs of raw material for the production of particleboard industry. In this study, the use of wood utilization of pruning residues from apple trees has been investigated by using chipping at the landing chipping methods (LCMs) and farm chipping methods (FCM). These methods were conducted on seven farms, totaling 9.2 ha. A time study was used to estimate operation time and cost. Transportation of chips from the study area to factories was done with semi-trailers, trucks, and pickup trucks. The residue yield was between 1.8 and 2.0 green ton per hectare. The maximum time was related to chipping and the collection of residues and the most delay was mechanical. The residues were collected, chipped, and transported to the particleboard factory at a cost between US$10.18 and US$19.46 per ton, and the profit rate between US$15.5 and US$24.8 per ton depending on chipping methods and secondary transport system. Cost and the total time of LCM were lower than the FCM, and also production rate of LCM was higher than the FCM; therefore, this method was more effective in processing residues from apple trees. Regression techniques showed that in LCM, the effect of diameter and age was significant on residue processing time and in FCM, the effect of diameter, age, residue density, and functional the area was significant in residue processing time.