Kiln-drying scheduled for ruberwood (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.)

The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) has been cultivated for tapping purposes and it is considered as wood supply in the end of the productive cycle of latex. Drying is one of the most important steps in the mechanical processing of wood. As far as rubberwood is concerned, kiln-drying is particularly an essential step due to its high susceptibility to decay and mold fungi attacks mainly when the wood moisture content is high. Thus, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a conventional drying schedule for four clones of Hevea brasiliensis (IAN-873, IAN-717, GT-711 and AVROS-1301) planted in Itubera and Grapiuna counties in the Bahia state, Brazil. The conventional drying schedule applied, with minimum and maximum drying temperatures, respectively, of 50 degrees C and 75 degrees C in a Hildebrand test dryer kiln with a Gann automatic control, was efficient, producing a very fast drying (less than 4 days for clones IAN-873, IAN-717 and GT-711) and fast (4,5 days to clone AVROS-1301) with low drying defects development.