Sustainable forestry in practice: Test area created with Moritz mini felling tractors in the Sauerland
Two Moritz mini felling tractors were used on the 5 ha area during reforestation in November 2024, each equipped with a container planter – one with the Plantomat and one with the Plantomat Flex. This innovative technology enables precise and semi-automated planting, even in challenging terrain. The individual areas were all on slopes.
After harvesting the calamity timber, broom and other shrubs had spread generously on the area up to a height of 2.5 m. This vegetation was mulched prior to planting. To ensure that the plants have contact with the mineral soil, a prototype of a plough was tested at the front of the Moritz with the Plantomat in this application. The newly developed plough pushes the mulch layer to the side so that the planter places the container plant directly in the mineral soil. The milling wheel is not required for this working method. This enables the same hourly output as with the Plantomat Flex model.
Greater efficiency thanks to modern technology
The Moritz mini felling tractor is the only tool for forest conversion and reforestation that can manage the entire process from preparation to planting and sowing to maintenance. The Moritz impresses with its quality and performance. And yet it is more soil-friendly and economical than any other machine system on the market.
Thanks to the combination of a front-mounted milling machine and a planter at the rear of the Plantomat Flex model, the Moritz has an optimised weightdistribution, which plays a decisive role especially on slopes. Simultaneous soil cultivation and planting enable a high area output of up to 120 container plants per hour - even more under optimal conditions.
More about the Moritz mini felling tractor
In order to ensure the success of the planting, the area was also fenced off to protect it from game. Already existing natural rejuvenation is deliberately integrated into the concept in order to develop a stock that is as close to nature as possible. The manoeuvrability of the small Moritz mini felling tractor makes this possible without any problems
Future-oriented working method for forestry
This test area is an important step in the further development of modern reforestation methods at Pfanzelt. In the long term, it should provide insights into how machine planting processes can be optimised on slopes. In order to establish a mixed forest, areas are left free between the planting rows on which seed will be sown in spring 2025. This is also done with the Moritz mini felling tractor. Sessile oaks and copper beeches are then sown next to the planted Douglas firs.
Interested parties are welcome to contact us to visit the test area by prior arrangement. The developments of the project are regularly documented and published on our website.
Natural reforestation - Summary of the test area at the KWF conference after 4 years
As part of the 2024 KWF Conference, Pfanzelt presented the “Forest of the Future” project, a 1.5-hectare area which has been undergoing near-natural reforestation with the Moritz mini felling tractor since 2021. Visitors were able to find out about the progress and methods used on site. After almost four years, we, as well as the forest ranger in charge of us, Werner Rocke, can draw a very positive interim assessment of the reforestation. This applies to the procedures implemented and adapted to the structure of the area as well as to the current status of the seeds or planting.