The poplar is one of the most important species for the biomass production. The Italian climatic conditions could be considered optimal for poplar growth as species for SRC. Nowadays, new Populus hybrids and cultivars were specifically selected by Italian researcher showing in experimental trials a very high production capacity. Poplar SRC plantations can produce large amounts of dry matter in a relatively short time. However, five years old poplar (Populus spp.) plantation represent a productive model equally interesting for its handling flexibility, big yield and good chips quality. The planting distance (3x2 m) and the dimension reached by plant at end shift (average basal diameter of 180-200 mm, average height of 15 m) can justify the presence of forestry yard organized according the plants size, the field extension and the productive purpose.

Generally, traditional yard provides the felling of a variable number of trees, the stacking of the biomass in designated areas (eg. sideline), and the chipping operated by chippers (even self-propelled) feed by log grape.

The Panacea group as result of the experiences gained in the two phases harvest of biennial poplar plantations, has developed a new harvesting chain for the harvest of five years old poplar plantation. The plants are cut by a prototype of cut-windrower installed on a tractor having a minimum power of 95 kW. The machine moves forward with a constant velocity along the row and it is able to cut and place the plants along the inter-row. The chipping of biomass windrowed on inter-row is accomplished by a self-propelled chipper equipped with a pick-up head.

The yard proposed, and the machine developed for the harvest of five-year old poplar plantations, represent a great innovation for the mechanization of the energy crops. Beside the simplification and the reduction of the harvesting time, This new chain allows to reduce harvesting time and cost, rationalizing also the use of tractors generally available in farms of medium and large scale.

This study shows the results reached by the prototype of cut-windrower machine during tests carried out in the biennium 2011-2012.

Initial tests were carried out on five-year old poplar plantation located in Pavia –Italy (January and February 2011) in order to evaluate the quality of the innovation introduced. The harvesting trial aimed to evaluate the performance of the machine and the quality of the work  was carried out during December 2011 in Savigliano (CN–Italy) on a five years old poplar planting at the first round of coppicing.

The cut-windrower is a semi-trailed machine requiring a tractor of 95 kW at least.

The machine has a total mass of 2,046 kg and it is composed by a cutting system and a double pincer. The double pincer performs different functions such as gripping, transport and unload. The machine is able to cut and leave the plants on the inter-row simultaneously to the progress of the tractor, putting down the trees parallel to it but in opposite direction. The cutting system consists of a sawblade (1000 mm in diameter) that performs the cut at 2200 rpm. It is installed on a mobile support associated to a spring capable to absorb part of the stress occurred during cutting. The cut-windrower has two wheels that held the machine during work and allow to adjust the cutting height by the action of two jacks (the minimum cut height is 50 mm). The double pincer, composed by two series of mechanic arms (gripping elements) which can be partially overlapped, spins around a master rotary column. When the pincer touches for the first time the tree, it begins to perform a series of operations following a defined time model. These are: griping, lifting, transport toward inter-row, inclination, release of the plant, and return to the original position.

The time scheduled for opening and tilt the pincer can be modified with a specific command. The cutting tool and the pincer are capable to move laterally from the primary body of the machine, going through the transport configuration to the working configuration.