The larger the jobs, the more cost effective they can be

Mobilization and demobilization generally accounts for less than 15% of larger,  well organized jobs.  On smaller jobs this cost can be as high as 50% of the total cost.

The more hours a year a contractor gets, the less he has to charge per hour to cover fixed costs and generate a profit.

The larger the program for excavators, the more cost effective they can be.

Some Provinces have statuary regulations for reforestation of every hectare/acre logged.

Scenario: The logged are is 50 acres of which 10 acres is difficult to treat even with an excavator.  Statutory regulations require that "all" land must be reforested to a specified standard within a given time period.  That 10 acres may cost $400.00 per acre or $4000.00.  The entire block may have been prepared by the same excavator for the average cost of $150.00 per acre or $7500.00.  Normally 5 times the work done should cost 5 times more, but in this case 5 times the work is less than 2 times the cost.

Small jobs cost more per acre and are less likely to be cost effective.

Depth of Cultivation see photo 2

50 cm or 22 inches is most common.  South America/ Australia prefer 60 cm or 24 inches.  Adjustments in the tool plate side arms of the VH Mulcher can readily be made.  Depth of cultivation is not as critical as obtaining a 50-50 mix ration or shaping of the microsite to maximize the benefit from local climate.

On some sites deep cultivation may not be desirable.   Operators are simply instructed not to place the head fully into the ground but to pull the head across the surface to obtain the desired results.

Operation:

The eggbeater tool plate has 3 downward arms.  The secret to successful operation and quick shaping of the microsite with dumping of on board soil id to rotate the tool plate so that one arm points to the operators nose, the other two to the side.  In this manner the dirt readily falls through to the rear when tipped slightly at an angle. see photo 2

If sticky clay adheres to the arms then the above actions plus rotating from forward to reverse will clear this material.  (Some light jarring or banging should result but must be minimized so not to damage the excavator by excessive vibration or shock) (Pressure relief valve setting adjustment)

The eggbeater tool plate is delivered in two sizes from the factory (22" and 24" inches or 50-60 cm).  The 24" is most common and sufficient for most soils and sites.

The additional depth the 24" plate develops may be preferred in areas that have more than 8" or 20cm of fine organic material covering the mineral soil or where aeration of deep fertile mineral soils is recommended.   Consideration should be given to extra costs and benefits as going deeper costs more.

If more shallow cultivation is preferred (in the case of shallow soil layer where disturbance is not desirable) the operator simply does not allow the plate to penetrate as deeply. (Normal hydraulic control of the excavator arm.)   This procedure is not required when preparing dry arid sites with "Depression" microsites.

Scalping away organic matter or gathering additional organic material for incorporation to the soil.

In the same position as above, with one arm towards the operators nose, the egg beater tool plate can be used as a light duty rake.  Slightly tilted, after cleaning away heavy coarse slash, it can be used to gather the remaining finer, nutrient rich top organic matter or top soil to the spot and incorporated into the microsite.

Note: This procedure, "scratch and win" can double the amount of organic material and nutrients for each spot and should be the preferred procedure on poorer sites or dense soils with little organic matter present.