scholarly journals Height growth, site index, and carbon metabolism.

Silva Fennica ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Valentine
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.


2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 733-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J Buda ◽  
Jian R Wang

Stem analyses data collected in central Ontario stands were used to develop site index (height and age) and site form (height and diameter) models and curves for sugar maple. The suitability of both methods for evaluating sugar maple site productivity was examined. Two different equation forms were evaluated for both site index and site form models. A common modification of Richard's (1959) equation was most suitable for predicting dominant height at index age (site index) and reference diameter (site form). Potential effects of species mixture on sugar maple site index were examined. We found no significant effects on sugar maple height growth and site index in mixed stand conditions common in the region when compared to pure stands. The potential of site form as an alternative to site index was investigated through correlation analyses with site index and other site variables known to influence sugar maple height growth. Site form was not related to site index, nor any site variables related to sugar maple height growth. It is therefore inadequate for evaluating sugar maple site quality. We recommend height growth models and site index curves developed in this study be used to replace those from other regions currently used in central Ontario. Key words: site index, site form, sugar maple, site quality evaluation, mixedwood, uneven-aged


1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Gordon ◽  
Peter A. Williams ◽  
Edward P. Taylor

Abstract Four dominant or codominant Norway spruce trees from each of 55 sites were destructively sampled and the annual height growth determined by stem analysis. The sampled sites were stratified by soil textural class (coarse, medium, and fine) and depth to distinct mottling (0-16, 16-40, and 40 in.). Two sets of an-amorphic site index curves were constructed using a total age of 30 years (SI30), and breast height age of 25 years (SIBH25) as base ages. The mean SI30 from Ontario (53 ft) was found to be 17.8% higher than the mean values published from Vermont (45 ft) and currently used in Ontario. SIBH25 values had a range of 34.6 to 74.8 ft with a mean of 55.3 ft. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in SIBH25 due to soil texture and drainage class, and in years to breast height (BH) due to drainage class. SIBH25 was highest on sites with loamy soils and distinct mottling at 16-40 in. It took an average of 6.5 years for seedlings to reach BH with a range of 3 to 12 years. Years to BH was lowest on sites with sandy soils and those with distinct mottling below 40 in. North. J. Appl. For. 6(1):23-26, March 1989.


1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-88
Author(s):  
James L. Vander Ploeg ◽  
James A. Moore

Abstract Stem analysis data from Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) collected throughout the inland Northwest were used for testing height growth and site index equations. The equations performed well in northern and central Idaho, northeast Oregon, and northeast Washington on vegetative types similar to those sampled in model development. However, if the equations were applied on drier sites outside the original geographic study area, overestimates of height growth and under-estimates of site index could result. Therefore, revised height growth and site index equations are presented for western Montana and central Washington. West. J. Appl. For. 4(3):85-88, July 1989.


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.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Geoff Wang ◽  
Shongming Huang ◽  
David J. Morgan

Abstract Based on the provincial stem analysis and permanent sample plot (PSP) data of 1,580 felled dominant and codominant trees, height growth patterns of lodgepole pine were compared among the three major natural subregions [Sub-Alpine (SAL), Upper Foothills (UFH), and Lower Foothills (LFH)] in Alberta. The comparison used the ratio of heights at 70 and 30 years of breast height age (Z ratio) as a quantitative measure of height growth pattern (i.e., the response variable), site index (height at breast height age of 50 years) as the covariate, and natural subregion as the factor. Results indicated that: (1) the height growth pattern in the SAL natural subregion was significantly different from other natural subregions; and (2) no significant differences in height growth pattern were found between other natural subregions. Two polymorphic height and site index curves were developed: one for the SAL natural subregion and the other for the UFH and LFH natural subregions. Comparisons between the two curves and the previously developed provincial curve indicated that, for the same site index, trees in the SAL subregion grow consistently slower after 50 years. When the provincial height and site index curve was applied to the SAL natural subregion, large differences (≤14%) in gross volume estimation were found. However, volume estimation differences were very small (<2%) when the provincial curve was applied to the other two natural subregions. It is recommended that the natural subregion-based curves should be used for predicting lodgepole pine site index or height at any age in the SAL natural subregion. West. J. Appl. For. 19(3):154–159.


1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph L. Amateis ◽  
Harold E. Burkhart

Abstract Stem analysis data collected from dominant and codominant loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) trees in cutover, site-prepared plantations were used to develop site index curves. The data were collected over much of the natural range of loblolly pine. A separable differential equation which expresses height growth as a function of both height and age was used to develop the site index curves. These site index curves should be applicable to loblolly pine plantations on cutover, site-prepared lands through much of the South.1


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.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayne G. Erdmann ◽  
Ralph M. Peterson Jr. ◽  
Robert R. Oberg

The effects of six crown-release treatments on growth and bole quality development of 54-year-old dominant, codominant, and intermediate red maples (Acerrubrum L.) were evaluated on a good red maple site (site index = 19.3 m at 50 years) in upper Michigan. Results showed that crown release stimulated the growth of dominants, codominants, and strong intermediates without appreciably degrading log quality. The heavier 1.5- to 4.6-m crown-release treatments resulted in 7-year average DBH growth increases over the unreleased controls of 70% for dominants, 96% for codominants, and 108% for intermediates. Crown release had no effect on 8-year height growth, 3-year epicormic branching, or bole quality. Three years after treatment, unreleased trees had almost as many epicormic branches as released trees. The number of epicormic branches on individual trees was a function of dominance, log position, or height above ground, but was not related to residual stand density. Epicormic branching was also strongly correlated with the number of pretreatment epicormic branches on boles of intermediate trees, but not on dominant or codominant trees.


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