Harvest & Post-Harvest
Drying Load Density & Air Distribution
Drying-room performance depends on how much wet plant material is loaded, how it is spaced, and how conditioned air moves through the load. Room temperature and RH do not guarantee uniform flower conditions.
Key concepts
- Fresh plant material adds a large moisture load to the room
- Dense hanging or rack placement can create protected humid pockets
- Air should circulate through the room without blasting one product surface
- As drying progresses, the room moisture load changes
What to measure or observe
- Record wet load or lot size
- Map temperature and RH in several product zones
- Inspect spacing and stagnant pockets
- Track representative sample mass or other consistent drying indicators
Common mistakes
- Using the same room settings regardless of load size
- Crowding flowers until air cannot move between them
- Aiming fans directly at one area
- Assuming a wall sensor represents the middle of a dense load
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Low-versus-high load density comparison
- Drying room airflow map
- Moisture-load-over-time graph
- Direct-fan versus mixed-air diagram