Mechanized tree planting with an excavator-mounted M-Planter planting device

The efficiency of modern tree planting machines is strongly affected by operational conditions, technical machine performance, and operator. In this study, the aim was to determine the time consumption of mechanical planting work using the M-Planter planting machine in Finnish regeneration areas where stumps were harvested and slash collected. The work of six operators, working with four M-Planter planting machines, was quantified with a stopwatch-study method. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the influences of operator, base machine, planting area, and work-difficulty factors on the time taken to complete planting. The quality of the planting work was also evaluated. Including a constant time for refilling seedling cassettes, the mean productivity of operators was 280 seedlings per productive work hour, and the time used to plant a seedling was on average 13.21 seconds (standard deviation 1.4 seconds). There were no significant differences in time consumption between operators; base machine did not have a significant effect on total work time; and surface obstacles was the only work-difficulty factor to slow mechanical planting work. Seedlings were planted to an acceptable quality by all operators. With respect to equipment, the M-Planter has two separate planting units, and results should not be generalized to other devices.