Evaluation of a mechanical harvester for lifting radiata pine seedlings.  C. J. Leitch.  December 1980.  9 pp. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

A Lotus* Towed Seedling Harvester was evaluated for harvesting seedlings of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) on two, widely varying soil types at Benalla and Trentham nurseries. Although high levels of productivity were achieved and there was no significant difference in survival and early growth between mechanically-harvested and hand-lifted seedlings in field trials, mechanical harvesting was found to be unsuitable because either a high proportion of seedlings were left unharvested (Benalla) or a high proportion of seedlings in the nursery beds were culls (Trentham). If these problems could be overcome - by improving soil structure at the Benalla Nursery and achieving more uniform seedling growth at the Trentham Nursery - it is estimated that mechanical harvesting would cost $100 (1979 $) less per hundred thousand seedlings then hand-lifting. Under these circumstances, the purchase of a towed seedling harvester could be justified for nurseries with annual outputs of at least six million seedlings.

* Trade name.