Deterioration of Southern Pine Chips During Summer and Winter Storage

Piles were prepared from summer- and winter-stored chips and roundwood from freshly cut longleaf and slash pine trees. Stored chips were sampled at different intervals, for 5 months to 1 year. Temperature in the center and sides of the chip piles increased rapidly during the first 2 weeks of storage. Temperature in the sides of the piles remained below that of the center or followed the ambient temperature after the first 2 weeks. Moisture in the center moved to the exterior of the pile. Moisture content of the chips tended to be high and uniform throughout the pile with longer storage. During the first 2 months specific gravity loss was slight in the center of the piles where temperature ranged between 140? and 120?F., and minor or nil during the remainder of the period. Soft rot fungi were established in the sides of the piles due to high moisture during the first 2 months but did not appear in the interior due to lower moisture content resulting from high temperature. After 2 months fungi were established in the interior due to drop in temperature and higher moisture content. Specific gravity loss varied with season. Pulp yield was not affected by either type of storage based on wood charged to digester. Loss of pulp tear strength was about 5 percent per month regardless of type or season of storage.

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