Height-growth and site-index curves for jack pine in north central Ontario

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willard H. Carmean ◽  
Daniel J. Lenthall

Height-growth patterns for jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) were studied using stem analyses from dominant and codominant trees on 141 plots in north central Ontario. All plots were in natural, well-stocked, even-aged stands 50 years of age or older. Data from 32 of the 141 plots were randomly selected to confirm results, the remaining 109 plots were used for computing the curves. Height-growth curves were developed using a five-parameter Chapman–Richards nonlinear regression that expressed height as a function of age and site index. A site-index prediction equation was also computed using a similar model that expressed site index as a function of age and tree height. Estimated site index using height-growth curves based on the 109 computation plots agreed closely with site index observed from stem analyses on the 32 confirmation plots. Major results were as follows: (i) height-growth curves based on breast-height age were more accurate than curves based on total age; (ii) polymorphic height-growth patterns were related to site index, becoming more curvilinear as site index increased; (iii) average height-growth patterns were similar for jack pine growing on four glacial landforms: shallow and deep moraines, outwashed glacial sands, and lacustrine clays and silts; and (iv) height-growth patterns for ages less than 50 years were very similar to patterns of the commonly used Plonski curves for jack pine site classes in Ontario, but after 50 years, height growth was somewhat better for all sites than predicted by the Plonski curves.

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Means ◽  
Thomas E. Sabin

Abstract On the Siuslaw National Forest in the central Oregon Coast Range we performed stem analysis of 55 trees selected with the criteria used by the forest. Height growth patterns of these trees were significantly different (α = 0.05) from commonly used regional height growth curves. Height growth patterns also differed significantly among groups of floristically similar plant associations in the Siuslaw National Forest. We constructed height growth and site index curves for two classes of plant associations having different height growth curve forms and for the combined data. Forest managers should consider building local height-growth and site-index curves if these are important in estimating stand yield or site productivity. West. J. Appl. For. 4(4):136-142, October 1989


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.


1964 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Mitchell

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, were examined to determine the effect of animal feeding upon height growth.Length of internodes and evidence of past leader damage were recorded and cumulative average height-age growth curves compared for undamaged trees and for trees suffering various intensities of damage.The average reduction in tree height attributable to animal feeding in heavily browsed plantations varied from one-half to two feet over a period of 8 to 10 years. It is unlikely that either tree volume or quality at rotation age would be seriously affected.Exposed trees were browsed more heavily than those protected by vegetation or logging slash.


1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
William H. Carmean ◽  
James S. Thrower

Abstract Height-growth, site-index curves, and growth intercepts were developed from internode and stem-analysis data using dominant trees in 25 plots located in red pine plantations aged 26 to 37 yr. Height-growth curves were based on breast-height age because growth below breast height (1.3 m) was slow and erratic. Growth intercepts using the first three to five internodes above 1.5 m gave the best estimates of site index (dominant height at 20 yr breast-height age)for trees that were between 3 and 5 yr breast-height age; site-index estimation equations gave the best estimates for trees older than 10 yr breast-height age. These computed height-growth curves and growth intercepts and observed site index in north central Ontario were similar to other regions. The excellent growth observed in this study suggests that red pine should be given greater emphasis in future reforestation programs in north central Ontario. North. J. Appl. For. 12(1): 23-29.


1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey S. Milner

Abstract Height growth patterns from several published site curve sytems for ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var glauca), western larch (Larix occidentalis) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var latifolia) were compared to stem analysis data from western Montana. Most of the published curves had height growth patterns that differed significantly from those in the data. The magnitude of the deviations often varied by level of site index; this appeared to be related to differences in the range of site qualities sampled. Those curves constructed from stem analysis data from geographically similar populations compared most closely. Curves constructed using guide curve techniques showed a consistent tendency to underpredict heights at greater ages. New site index and height growth curves are presented for each species. West. J. Appl. For. 7(1):9-14.


1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-63
Author(s):  
John H. Hainze ◽  
Daniel M. Benjamin

Abstract Two methods for estimating the impact of the red pine shoot moth on the volume growth of red pine are presented. The first method utilized radial and height growth measurements from individually dissected trees to determine volume growth on a per-tree basis. Potential volume growth was estimated using a site index equation for height growth and past radial growth patterns. The second method determined volume growth on a stand basis from field measurements in sample plots. Potential volume growth was estimated using a computerized growth-and-yield model, REDPINE. The first method estimated mean volume growth losses ranging from 4% to 12% in four red pine stands infested by the shoot moth in the central Wisconsin sand plains. The second method estimated total stand volume losses ranging from 14% to 16% in the same four stands. We conclude that the first method provides more accurate estimates. North. J. Appl. For. 3:60-63, June 1986.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1846-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Hélène Longpré ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Martin Béland

The growth and yield of jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) was studied in even-aged stands of three types: pure jack pine, jack pine mixed with paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), and jack pine mixed with trembling aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) growing on moderately well-drained glaciolacustrine clay soils in the southern tip of the Clay Belt of northwestern Quebec. Site index, average DBH, and average height of jack pine, and the availability of nutrients in the forest floor were compared among stand types. No differences were found in the height growth of jack pine among stand types. However, diameters of jack pine in mixtures with paper birch were significantly greater than in either pure stands or in mixtures with aspen despite the fact that both mixed stand types showed higher forest floor pH and greater concentrations of exchangeable calcium and magnesium than the pure stands. These results, together with the pattern of height growth of the three species, suggest that the beneficial effect of paper birch on the diameter growth of jack pine is caused mainly by a reduction in the competition for light among individual jack pine trees. The silvicultural implications of the results are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 970-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.H. Weng ◽  
P. Lu ◽  
Q.F. Meng ◽  
M. Krasowski

Developing resistance to western gall rust (WGR) is important for maintaining healthy and productive jack pine plantations. In this study, we estimated genetic parameters of resistance to WGR and its relationship with tree height growth, based on data collected from three second-generation full-sib progeny testing series of jack pine planted in New Brunswick, Canada. Results indicated that (i) resistance to WGR in jack pine was controlled by both additive and dominance gene effects, with the latter playing a greater role; (ii) narrow-sense heritability estimates for resistance to WGR were low (mean = 0.05; series range = 0.00∼0.09), and broad-sense heritability estimates were moderate on an individual-tree basis (mean = 0.53) and considerably higher on the full-sib family mean basis (mean = 0.87); (iii) additive genetic correlation between tree height growth and WGR incidence was low (≤0.06) in two series and only slightly higher and favorable (–0.19) in one series, suggesting that selection on growth traits would not negatively affect WGR resistance; and (iv) mid-parental additive genetic and dominance effects on WGR were empirically correlated (>0.65), indicating that incorporating breeding for WGR resistance into current jack pine tree improvement programs with a seed orchard approach could partly capture the benefit from dominance effects. Although genetic gains in WGR resistance could be realized through various breeding and deployment schemes, it appeared that rapid improvement could be achieved through backward selection on full-sib family means.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Nigh

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether the relationship between site index and early height growth of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) is the same on wet and dry sites. If the height growth/site index relationship is the same for different site types, then only one growth intercept model is required to estimate site index. Indicator variables in nonlinear regression were used to incorporate soil moisture availability into a growth intercept model. One set of parameters in a site index/early height growth model was adequate for both wet and dry sites. This result was supported graphically. Therefore, only one growth intercept model is necessary for the sites examined in this study. West. J. Appl. For. 12(1):5-8.


1952 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Ker

The use of dominant heights for the estimation of site index is compared with the use of the average of dominant and codominant heights. Data collected on the University Research Forest are presented to illustrate the variability in tree heights and diameters within the two upper crown classes in well-stocked stands of immature Douglas fir.HeightIt is shown that the use of dominant heights reduces considerably the number of measurements required for a site index determination of given accuracy. Minimum sample sizes are given for three limits of accuracy for use in different site qualities. A general field and office procedure is outlined for the determination of minimum sample size in stands other than those described.DiameterThe use of diameter in site determination is discussed. Site indices based on the height of the tree of mean diameter, the height of the tree of mean basal area, and mean height are compared.ConclusionsQuick estimates of site quality can best be obtained by the measurement of total height of sample dominant trees, selected at random. For this purpose, tables are presented which list the average height of dominant trees by age and site classes for use in stands of Douglas fir, and western hemlock, respectively.


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