INFLUENCE OF WEATHER VARIABILITY ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF AIR- AND SOLAR KILN-SEASONED GMELINA ARBOREA ROXB. WOOD

Abstract

Plantation-grown Gmelina arborea trees were felled and corewood (3500 mm long) from the base of the logs were sawn. Flatsawn, FS planks (25 mm x 125 mm x 2500 mm) were processed for the experiment. Initial moisture content (IMC%) of planks was determined using the ovendry method. A total of 33 samples each were under air drying shed (ADS, 2.5 m2) and greenhouse-type solar kiln (SK, 4.00m3) located at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) for 21 days. Drying rate (DR%/day) and Final moisture content, FMC% of planks were calculated with reference to moisture content above and below fibre saturation point (FSP). Daily measurement on temperature-T◦C and relative and humidity-RH% of the atmospheric condition of the study area, and internal environmental condition of the drying facilities were measured. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and regression analysis at α0.05. Average DR%/day ranged from 0.42 to 155.46 and 0.02 to 157.46 in ADS and SK, respectively. Average FMC was 19.42 and 10.40 in ADS and SK, respectively. Atmospheric T◦C ranged from 28.11 to 34.91 while internal T◦C ranged from 31.27 to 38.00 and 32.63 to 40.18 in ADS and SK, respectively. Solar powered-kiln improved final moisture content and drying rate of Gmelina arborea wood. Publishing of this paper sponsored by the Obeng Prime LLC (https://obengprime.com; Saint Petersburg, Russia).

Keywords

• wood
• temperature
• relative humidity
• drying rate
• fibre saturation point
• planks