Deterioration of Willow and Cottonwood During Storage in Georgia

The decrease in specific gravity, decay organisms, and pulp quality were studied in Populus deltoides and Salix nigra bolts after outdoor storage periods of 8, 17, and 48 weeks at a high and dry site as well as a lower and wetter site. The wood came mostly from the Piedmont of Alabama with a small amount from the South Carolina Piedmont. Both species showed very little decrease in specific gravity after 8 and 17 weeks, but these changes were statistically significant at the 99 Percent probability level. After 48 weeks, Populus deltoides bolts dropped a maximum of 8.2 percent in specific gravity, whereas Salix nigra bolts dropped a maximum of 4.9 percent. The lower, wetter site produced greater decreases in specific gravity than the drier site. Blue stain and decay were present in the majority of both the Populus deltoides and Salix bolts at 17 weeks and in all the bolts of both species after 48 weeks. The fungi apparently responsible for the bulk of the decay were Schizophyllum commune, Polyporus adustus, Peniophera flavidolba, and Coprinus radians. Little changes were found in fiber classification of pulp made from these woods after the various times of storage. Populus deltoides green freeness values were somewhat slower than those from the Salix nigra pulps.

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