Pine cone moisture and marketing

Submitted by mcssilva on 26 June 2020
Stored pine cones

The objective was to evaluate the loss of moisture in pine cone during the storage after harvest, comparing the storage inside a warehouse or just under a shed. This information is intended to support the producer in deciding when to sell, at the beginning, during or at the end of the commercialization campaign, taking into account not only the market price / kg but also the weight loss of the pine cone due to the loss of moisture. 

Stone pine cone production estimated by Terrestrial Laser Scanner

Submitted by mutke@inia.es on 24 June 2020
Point cloud obtained from a Terrestrial Laser Scan.

The objective of the present study is to better understand the relationship between tree characteristics and cone production of Mediterranean stone pine. This was achieved by quantifying the gain in using detailed crown metrics in estimating cone production at individual tree level (number of cones per tree and average cone weight). Models based on traditional variables (tree size and stand characteristics) were compared to models that relied on crown metrics extracted from TLS data. The resulting models should help owners and managers to better predict cone production.

Cork quality assessement on the pile

Submitted by María Pasalodos on 22 June 2020
Cork pile in the field

This document presents the methodology used by the Extremadura Scientific and Technological Research Centre (CICYTEX) for assessing the quality of piled cork. Once the cork has been stripped from the trees, the planks are arranged in ‘piles’ prior to transportation to the factory. Assessing the cork in these piles is particularly useful in forests with difficult access, where direct assessment on the tree is not viable.

Adopting a common protocol for selling cork through tendering procedures in public cork oak woodlands in Sardinia (Italy)

Submitted by Sara Maltoni on 22 June 2020
Public cork oak woodlands in Sardinia

The aim is to provide a standard reference model to be used by public forest owners of cork oak woodlands to sell cork, both on the tree or in cork piles, through public tendering systems in Italy. The documents represent a good practice developed by the Agency Forestas on the basis of its long term experience in cork tendering systems that may be useful for harmonizing cork selling procedures across the country.  

Field sampling methods for cork value evaluation before cork debarking

Submitted by joanaap on 25 April 2020
Cork sample (cala) being extracted from a tree.

The objective of the current work is the analysis of alternative sampling methods and intensities for estimating cork value before its extraction (price per unit of weight), considering the trade-off between sampling precision and costs. The dataset includes 30 sampling clusters for each of the 6 stands, where the measurement of the tree coordinates in each plot allowed for the simulation of several sampling methods and intensities, and the comparison of the percent errors and sampling costs.

Pine cone quality assessment with X-Ray

Submitted by mcssilva on 31 March 2020
Inshell pine nuts X-rayed (Pinus pinea)

The objective is to analyze the possibility of modeling the kernel weight from biometric and morphological parameters of the pine nuts from Pinus pinea, measured through X – ray and image analysis. The overall objective is to support the definition of a pine cone quality assessment methodology at the stand/ farm level in order to provide the landowners with tools for pine cone commercialization and increase by this mean the market transparency.