Storage of Timber under Permanent Irrigation

Abstract

SYNOPSISThe storage of9 624 m 3 pine sawtimber under permanent sprinkler irrigation is described. After the plantation fire at Entabeni on 3 October 1989 the immediate utilisation of all badly burnt sawtimber was not possible. Sawlogs were prepared in uniform length of 6,3 m and stacked in rows. Sprinkler irrigation, fiormally used for agricultural purposes, was installed on top of the stacks and water was applied at 75 mm/day, over the 24-hour period, for nearly a year.The relatively high storage cost of R11,93/m 3 stored was mainly caused by a lack of suitable stacking equipment.The recovery of the logs in the form of sawn planks indicated that the wet storage operation was a success and that no blue-stain developed during the storage period. Blue-stain, which had infected some of the logs before wet storage, was effectively halted.The first ever application of wet storage of pine saw logs in South Africa by means of permanent irrigation was a technical and economical success and comprehensive suggestions are made as to the use of this system in the future.