MEASUREMENT OF WOOD MOISTURE CONTENT USING THE COLMAN ELECTRODE
Colman electrodes were inserted into stem sections of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar and black cottonwood and resistance readings were taken at wood moisture contents of 10% to 100% of maximum moisture content. In almost all the conifer sections tested, 85% or more of the readings lay within limits of ±10% moisture content about the mean curve, and over 50% were within ±5%. The variation was greater for black cottonwood. Variation was also greater in the larger than in the smaller sections. The curves for individual sections within each species had certain characteristics in common, but no two curves were identical.Resistance readings given by Colman electrodes inserted into living black cottonwood trees showed a fairly good correlation with soil moisture content when the trees were subjected to cycles of drought and watering.