Comparison of height growth and growth intercept models of jack pine plantations and natural stands in northern Ontario

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2179-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-ping Guo ◽  
Jian R Wang

Accurate estimates of forest productivity are required for sustainable forest management. Sixty-five jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) plantations (<50 years of age) were sampled to develop height growth and variable growth intercept (GI) models for jack pine plantations in northern Ontario, Canada. Based on the residual plots and model-fitting statistics, these models can be recommended for estimating site index (SI) of young (<40 years) jack pine plantations. To compare SI of plantations with that of natural stands, we used stem-analysis data from 383 plots of natural jack pine stands (aged 50–157 years) from the same geographic region to develop the GI models for natural stands. Also, polymorphic SI curves were developed for young (<40 years) plantations in northern Ontario. These SI curves were different from those for natural stands. Jack pine plantations had a higher site quality (SI) than did the original natural stands on the similar sites. The SI curves developed from natural stands should not be used to predict growth and yield of jack pine plantations before they are calibrated for jack pine plantations. These GI models will be used to estimate SI for silviculture and forest-management planning.

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-137
Author(s):  
Martin M. Kwiaton ◽  
Jian R. Wang ◽  
Douglas E.B. Reid

Abstract Site quality is a key component of growth and yield models because height growth rates are known to be influenced by available site resources. Accurate prediction of future growth and yield requires site quality information for both plantations and natural stands. The forest industry in northern Ontario relies on high-quality wood and fiber from black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. B.S.P.); therefore, these tools are essential to ensure sustainable forest management. Although there are site index (SI) models for natural-origin black spruce stands in northern Ontario, models for estimating site quality of young black spruce plantations have not been developed. We used stem analysis data collected from 62 plantations (>40 years of age) of pure black spruce across northern Ontario to develop height growth, SI, and variable growth intercept models. The distinct height growth patterns we observed may be attributed to early silvicultural treatments (site preparation and herbicide) in plantations allowing black spruce trees to attain breast height (1.3 m) faster than in fire-origin stands in northern Ontario. Our models can be used to estimate site quality of black spruce plantations, a key consideration for silviculture and forest management planning. We also compare our managed stand SI model to one we developed from a comparable subset of data from black spruce growing in unmanaged stands and propose a method to assign an SI with a common base age to pure upland black spruce stands regardless of origin.


2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willard H. Carmean ◽  
G. Hazenberg ◽  
G. P. Niznowski

Stem-analysis data from dominant and codominant trees were collected from 383 plots located in fully stocked, even-aged, undisturbed mature jack pine stands. Separate site index curves were independently formulated for four regions of northern Ontario using the Newnham constrained nonlinear regression model; these formulations were used for comparing regional site index curves at three levels of site index (10 m, 15 m and 20 m).Comparisons showed that no significant differences existed between the four regional curves as well as with previously published site index curves for the North Central Region. Each of the four regions had similar polymorphic height-growth patterns; therefore, data for the four regions were combined and a single formulation was used to develop a polymorphic set of site index curves for all of northern Ontario. We found that poor sites in each region had almost linear height growth up to 100 years breast-height age, but for each region height growth became more curvilinear with increasing site index. The recommended site index curves for northern Ontario are based on a formulation using only data from plots 100 years and less but this formulation was not significantly different from a formulation using only data from plots 80 years and less, or a formulation that included all data from plots older than 100 years breast-height age.Comparisons were made between our northern Ontario curves and other jack pine site index curves for Ontario as well as curves for other areas of Canada and the United States. These comparisons generally showed considerable older age differences. Reasons for these differences are uncertain but could be due to differences in the amount and kind of data used for these other curves, could be due to differences in analytical methods, or could be due to regional differences in climate, soil and topography. Key words: site quality evaluation, polymorphic height growth, regional site index curves, site index prediction equations, comparisons among site index curves.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Bottenfield ◽  
David D. Reed

Abstract Five growth intercept measurements were correlated with site index of red pine plantations in the northern Lakes States. The growth intercept variables were obtained by direct field measurement or indirectly through interpolation of stem analysis data. Growth intercepts represented both time (age in years) and distance (height in feet) measurements. Growth intercepts representing time and the age at breast height are not recommended for use in young red pine plantations. The amount of height growth in the first five annual whorls above 5 and 8 ft were good predictors of site index. North. J. Appl. For. 5:91-93, June 1988.


1976 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Bolghari

Multiple regression equations have been developed to predict yield from young red pine and jack pine plantations. Data from 446 sample plots representing young red pine and jack pine stands located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River between Quebec and Montreal were analysed. The red pine plantation yielded more than the jack pine. However, in plantation both species yield more than in natural stands. Taking into account the age and spacing of the sampled plantations, the equation obtained can provide information on yield of red pine and jack pine stands the maximum spacing of which is 3 × 3 m, up to the age of 45 and 35 years respectively. The equations will allow the construction of preliminary yield tables for both species.


1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Brown ◽  
Charles A. Duncan

Abstract Growth intercept (GI) techniques were evaluated for estimating site quality in red pine stands planted on old-field sites in the unglaciated Western and Central Allegheny Plateau regions of Ohio. Correlations between height growth of trees below breast height (BH) and height growth above BH were not statistically significant. Site index estimates were made using age at BH and height from BH to the growing tip. Three-year and 5-year growth beginning three internodes above the BH annual increment and 10-year growth beginning one internode above BH were more significantly correlated with height than were intercepts beginning at BH. In equations developed for predicting site index, 3-, 5-, and 10-year intercepts in combination with age accounted for 64 to 80% of the variation in tree heights. Combining thickness of the A soil horizon with GI and age statistically increased the variation accounted for in the 3- and 5-year GI equations; however, for field use, the improvement in accuracy was not sufficient to justify making the additional soil measurement. North. J. Appl. For. 7(1):27-30, March 1990.


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Marquis ◽  
D. Paré

In silvicultural trials, the confounding influence of permanent soil properties is assumed to be minimal. A covariance analysis using total elemental concentrations of parent material (geochemistry) and soil particle size distribution (texture) was used to understand the role that these variables could play in tree growth and foliar nutrient status, and in the growth response to site preparation of 16- to18-yr-old jack pine plantations growing on seemingly homogeneous glacial outwash deposits. Three treatments were tested in a replicated design: direct plantation, and site preparation with TTS or with Bräcke. The combination of particle size distribution and soil geochemistry explained the site quality index (SQI) in control plots (R2 = 0.94) better than soil texture alone. In all plots, SQI was strongly related to K and Mg concentrations in foliage and in humus and, to a lesser degree, to foliar N concentrations. A covariance analysis using soil texture and geochemical composition indicated that while site preparation had an effect on tree growth, the sites that responded the most to site preparation were the ones with the lowest growth potential as determined by soil texture and geochemistry. Key words: Silviculture, site preparation, site quality index, growth, permanent soil factors, texture, geochemistry, nutrition


1961 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Vincent

Uses of the total-height/total-age relationship and the growth-intercept method in defining site quality are discussed briefly. Factors affecting height growth of the trees such as animal, insect, and frost damage, along with stand density and initial suppression, are discussed. Attention is drawn to their influences on the height-age relationship. It is suggested that the growth-intercept method of obtaining site quality may be useful in some circumstances.


1990 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan G. L. Innes ◽  
James F. Bendell ◽  
Brian J. Naylor ◽  
Beverley A. Smith

1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Janas ◽  
D. G. Brand

This study compares growth yield, and stem quality differences at age 21 between plantations spaced at 2.13 × 2.13 m (2204 stems/ha) and 4.27 × 4.27 m (548 stems/ha), and a nearby natural jack pine stand of identical age (initial density of 29 800 stems/ha). Merchantable volume/ha was greatest at the 2.13 m spacing, followed by the less dense plantation and natural stand. Total volume/ha (trees > 1.3 m height) was also greatest in the 2.13 m plantation, followed by the natural stand and the 4.27 m plantation. Individual tree mean merchantable volumes decreased with increasing density. Height growth decreased with increasing density. Height 4.27 m plantation relative to the 2.13 m plantation. Stem quality of the natural stand was markedly better than in both plantations. A comparison of an older natural stand and a plantation in the same area suggests that superiority of tree form of denser natural stands will continue through to rotation. High mortality in the natural stand was largely the result of snow and ice damage which caused patchy and irregular stocking. These results imply that widely spaced plantations of unimproved jack pine will produce large individual tree sizes, but at the expense of quality. Key words: Pinus banksiana, plantations, natural stands, stem quality growth and yield, stand density, mortality, spacing, silviculture.


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