Effect of Storage on Growth Stress in Mountain Ash Logs and Trees

Abstract

SUMMARY Growth stresses in regrowth and plantation grown eucalypts are responsible for many of the difficulties associated with their conversion and utilisation. Hence it has become important to consider methods which may economically reduce levels of stress in logs prior to their conversion. In this study, logs and trees were stored both in the open and under water sprays in an effort to quantify the changes in stress which occur during such storage. A mean reduction in the order of 20% was observed following a storage time of approximately 300 days. Hence, there appears to be no technical difficulty which would prevent industry from obtaining a moderate reduction in level of growth stress in logs prior to their conversion.