Green Sorting Incense-Cedar for Increased Air-Drying Yard Throughput

This study was aimed at determining the variability in drying rates and times of suspected different sorts (classifications) of incense-cedar, and whether drying time could be predicted by the drying effort method using atmospheric condition data. Sorts were based on sapwood-heartwood percentages and weight per lineal foot. The aim was to determine if boards could be sorted when green into drying rate related classes. Three hundred and ninety-one boards were weighed at the start and at 10 intervals up to 180 days then conditioned for 31 days at 13.8 percent equilibrium moisture content (MC). Final MCs were determined with a resistance moisture meter. MCs at all weighing times were determined by back-calculating from the final set of measurements. Weather data was collected continually at the drying site. Neither percent sapwood, nor weight per foot, nor a combination of the two showed promise as a means of segregating the green boards into drying rate related sorts. The highest coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.487. Only a slightly stronger relationship, up to R2=0.634, was seen for the MC or weight per unit length versus (log) drying effort comparisons. In spite of this, a clear distinction existed between the zero percent and 100 percent sapwood sorts for drying time to 30 percent MC.

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