Important Facts Relating To Forestry Mulching

By Eugenia Dickerson


Forestry mulching is a technique used in land clearing. In this method, a single machine is used to clear, cut and grind vegetation. The machine that is used for this exercise is also referred to as a brushcutter, a mulcher or a masticator. The machine has steel chipper tools that move in rotatory fashion as they shred vegetation. On average, each mulcher can clear up to 15 acres of land per day depending on the nature of terrain and type of vegetation.

This clearing method has a wide range of applications. One of the areas in which it is used is in right-of-way clearance. This is often required for roads, pipelines, highways and other types of utility lines. Mulchers are preferred in such cases because they can remove all standing trees, vegetation and stumps with ease. This ability also makes them a good choice for clearing land that is to be used for creation of commercial and residential projects.

The technique is quite popular among conservationist groups who use it in the conservation of riparian habitats and wetlands. Groups of organizations that take part in this exercise include non-governmental organizations, government agencies, private land owners and hunt clubs among others. Clearance of habitats serves a number of functions. This process creates room for growth of newer grasses that are a source of food for the organisms. The exercise also improves access to water sources for the animals.

Mulching is widely used for controlling wild fires. This is done either as a proactive or an active measure. Proactively, the amount of dry vegetation is reduced in areas that are likely to be affected by fires. Such vegetation includes dry leaves, rotten trees and so on. As an active measure, the method is used in the creation of firebreaks and to control the spread. A clean-up process can also be undertaken after a fire to reduce the chance of soil erosion.

There are a number of advantages that are realised by using this technique. One of the biggest advantages is that it is time saving. Since the clearing is done all at once, the many steps usually involved in land clearing such as cutting, felling, hauling and site preparation are all eliminated. The need to use many different types of machines is also eliminated. Effectively, these result in lower costs associated with land preparation.

The other major benefit of using mulchers is that they are capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions and in very difficult terrain. This makes them very convenient to use as anytime there is no need to wait for better climatic conditions. In spite of their amazing abilities, these land movers cause very little damage to soil. Everything remains intact. The traditional methods are associated with increased risk of soil erosion.

There some disadvantages that may arise when these machines are used. For instance, only vegetation can be effectively moved. Other debris such as stones and rocks pose a big challenge and even cause damage to the machine. Accessibility of the area by road is a prerequisite and this may not be possible in some cases.

Forestry mulching remains the most cost effective methods of clearing land. Apart from cost, it is also convenient and applicable in a wide range of fields. It has become the most preferred method of land clearing due to the many disadvantages associated with the conventional methods.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment