Ministry of Forests Forest Science Program
		Abstract for FRDA Report 217

		A Trial of Push-falling to Reduce Phellinus weirii Infection of Coastal Douglas-fir
		Authors or Ministry Contacts: R.N. Sturrock, E.J. Phillips and R.G. Fraser
		Branch: Research
		Subject: Root Disease
		Series: FRDA Report
		Other details: Published April 1994

Abstract

Push-fall harvesting (or "push-falling") was conducted in coastal British Columbia and evaluated as a strategy for reducing Phellinus weirii infection (laminated root disease) of second-growth, coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). All seven activities comprising the push-falling operation (move, push, shake, grub, brush, deck, and delay) were documented in a video. The productivity of the push-falling operation was measured by detailed timing with stop watches and by shift level monitoring. The greatest proportion of time (24 .6%) was taken by shaking soil from root masses of push-felled trees, followed by moving between treaties rate (18.5%), and grubbing for roots (17.7%). The estimated cost of the push-falling operation on this coastal site was $11.84/m3, including the removal of most diseased stump roots. This cost is comparable to costs for conventional harvesting alone.

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