Egas, Andrade Fernando Klitzke, Ricardo Jorge Luis, Reinaldo Calçada Guina  Uetimane Junior, Ernesto  Batista, Djeison Cesar  Rocha, Márcio Pereira da  <br/><br/>
The Effect of Weather on Air-Drying of Messassa Wood 

<br/><br/> Publicação on-line; 28 ref.; 4 tables; 3 illus.; Summary (En) 
<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Abstract<br/><br/>This study intended to assess the effect of weather on the air-drying process of messassa wood<br/>(Brachystegia spiciformis Benth) in two areas of Mozambique (Machipanda and Beira city).<br/>First, the logs were sawn into 27 mm thick boards. Every five days the moisture content of the<br/>wood was determined by the control samples. For each region, the drying rate and wood quality<br/>post sawing and drying were estimated. The drying time differed between the regions under<br/>investigation, with Machipanda revealing the higher value. Messassa wood, which revealed a low<br/>drying rate (0.33% U/day), was categorized as slow drying wood. Both regions showed average<br/>final moisture content of 15.3% in the boards, with only slight variations in moisture inside the<br/>stacks. After outdoor drying, only a few defects were noted and as it was free from tensions,<br/>hence it was classified as good quality wood.<br/><br/>Keywords: Mozambique, drying rate, wood quality, Brachystegia spiciformis Benth. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>SECAGEM<br/>MADEIRA<br/>CLIMA<br/>QUALIDADE<br/>MOÇAMBIQUE