CIEL*a*b* Measurements to Determine the Role of Felling Season,Log Storage and Kiln Drying on Coloration of Silver Birch Wood

The effects of felling season, log storage and kiln drying on stemwood discoloration of sixty mature silver birches ( Betula pendula ) were studied and provided with CIEL*a*b* colour coordinates. The colour differences were expressed as j E* including split up of j L*, j a* and j b*. The results showed that fresh wood colour depends on the felling season: light and pale colours were recorded for samples taken from autumn- and winter-felled trees, whereas the colour of fresh wood was considerably darker if the felling took place in the spring or summer. After storage, notable changes in colour were observed. After drying, all samples showed low lightness, moderate redness and relatively high yellowness under the drying conditions used in the study regardless of the felling season or duration of storage. The main colour component responsible for the discoloration was lightness, while chroma values redness and yellowness played a minor role.