Mechanization of Pine Cone Harvest(I) -Physical Properties of Korean Pine Cones-

잣 수확의 기계화 연구(I) -잣 송이의 물리적 특성-

135 and 136 pine cones were sampled from age class of II to VI Korean pine trees for the study of their physical properties in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The length, width, weight, volume, and the largest projected area of cones were measured, and the specific gravity, apparent volume ratio sphericity, and roundness were calculated. Regression analysis were performed for the weight, volume, and projected area to the cone length and width. The length, and major and minor diameters of the cone stalks were measured and analyzed. 1. The range of the length of cone stalks was 0 to 47.3mm. The average length of stalks were 9mm ('91) and 10mm('92), respectively. Cross section of the stalks was ellipse with average major and minor diameters of 9.1mm and 10.1mm, and 8.6 and 8.7mm in 91 and 92, respectively. 2. The length of pine cones distributed from 8cm to 17cm and the average length were about 13cm('91, '92). The width varied from 5cm to 9.5cm and the average width were 6.7cm('91) and 6.9cm('92). The ratios of the length to the width were 0.56('91) and 0.65('91) and the shape of the cones were found to be ellipse with minor diameter of 1/2 to 2/3 of the major diameter. 3. The roundnesses and sphericity of cones were 0.74 and 0.75('91), 0.63 and 0.67('92), respectively. The average of the largest projected area of cones were $85.3cm^2$('91) and $93.1cm^2$('92) and the criterion areas were $71.0cm^2$ and $74.5cm^2$, respectively. 4. Cone weights were from 83g to 467g('91 and '92) and averages were 186g('91) and 220g('92). The average specific gravities were 0.89 and 0.96('91 and '92). The true volumes were $212cm^2$('91) and $230cm^2$('92), and the average bulk volume was $321cm^2$('91, '92). The average apparent volume ratios of cones were 35% ('91) and 28% ('92), respectively. 5. The weight and the volume were proportional to the length of the cone multiplied by the width squred and the largest projected area was proportional to the length multiplied by the width of cones.