Single-tree crown shape and crown volume models for Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold in central Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Di Salvatore ◽  
Maurizio Marchi ◽  
Paolo Cantiani
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Crown Shape ◽  
Volume Models

scholarly journals Single tree crown shape and volume models for Pinus nigra planted forests in Italy to support forest management strategies in artificial stands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Di Salvatore ◽  
Maurizio Marchi ◽  
Paolo Cantiani
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Black Pine ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Crown Shape

Abstract Background Tree crown can be considered the engine of trees whose size is a key variable to understand the most important ecological and physiological processes that occur in forest ecosystem. The shape and dimension of single-tree crown are affected by a combination of multiple factors such as lateral competition, fertility as well as forest management practices. Anyway, few models are provided in literature to derive their shape and volume from sampled data except the light transmittance or light measurements under canopy closure (Photosynthetic Active Radiation or Leaf Area Index). The main goal of the study is to present a simple and effective method to predict crown shape and crown volume in artificial black pine plantations in Italy from simple field data. Two key parameters involved in crown volume calculation in literature were here modelled. Such parameters were the distance from the top where the crown expresses its the maximum radius (L 0 ) and the radius at crown base height (r cb ). The analysis of crown profile and volume is based on available knowledge we found in literature (Pretzsch 2009) and where the considered species was not included. Results The nonlinear equation results the most adequate for the fitting and able to characterise the ecological processes more properly. Even if just slightly different, the mean absolute error was lower and statistically significant and around 84 cm for L 0 and 36 cm for r cb . Then the use of a modelling procedure also allowed the calculation of confidence intervals and was more powerful than a single multiplier, which is the most common method available in literature. Once compared with field data collected during thinning harvesting, the calculated volumes were correlated with thinning intensities and able to characterise the number of trees removed in each treatment and the increased amount of PAR on the ground. Conclusions The proposed model results useful to evaluate the spatial structure of forest stand without sophisticated and time-consuming surveys and could be an additional tool to support the practical management of artificial black pine stands.

scholarly journals Analytical approaches for modeling tree crown volume in black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) stands

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (49) ◽  
pp. 4979-4989
Author(s):  
C. Cadori Guilherme ◽  
R. Sanquetta Carlos ◽  
Pellico Netto Sylvio ◽  
Behling Alexandre ◽  
Costa Junior Sergio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Crown ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Black Wattle ◽  
Analytical Approaches

scholarly journals Investigation of stem anatomy in relation to hydraulic conductance, vegetative growth and yielding potential of ‘Summit’ cherry trees grafted on different rootstock candidates

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tijana Narandžić ◽  
Mirjana Ljubojević ◽  
Jovana Ostojić ◽  
Goran Barać ◽  
Vladislav Ognjanov
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Sweet Cherry ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Hydraulic Conductance ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Stem Anatomy ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Cultivar Selection ◽  
Cherry Trees

Abstract Severe climate alterations that seriously challenge fruit production, combined with the demand for healthy, pesticide-free fruits, continuously direct rootstock/cultivar selection towards high adaptable varieties breeding. This study aimed to investigate the rootstocks’ influence on the performance of grafted ‘Summit’ cherry trees, including potentially dwarfing Prunus cerasus, Prunus fruticosa and Prunus mahaleb rootstock candidates. Anatomical properties of rootstock and scion stems were investigated to determine variation among different rootstocks and scion-rootstock combinations and to establish the link between trunk hydraulic conductivity, effective tree crown volume and yielding potential. Cross-section anatomical characteristics varied significantly both in rootstock and scion stems, indicating a clear influence of rootstock genotype on grafted sweet cherry trees. It was observed that all investigated cherry rootstock candidates belong to the low-vigorous rootstocks, based on the estimated effective crown volume of grafted trees compared to ‘Gisela 5’, with values ranging from 0.86 to 2.97 m3 in the fifth year after planting. Results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between trunk hydraulic conductivity, effective tree crown volume and yielding potential, with correlation coefficients up to 0.96. Significantly higher effective crown volume and trunk hydraulic conductance of trees grafted on P. cerasus compared to the trees on control, as well as highest yielding potential, showed better adaptation of these rootstock candidates in the trial without irrigation implemented. It was found that PC_05_04 rootstock candidate could be considered as the most appropriate choice when raising the high-density sweet cherry plantations, due to assessed parameters of vegetative and generative growth.

Individual Tree Measurement in Tropical Environment using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman ◽  
Zulkepli Majid ◽  
Md Afif Abu Bakar ◽  
Abd Wahid Rasib ◽  
Wan Hazli Wan Kadir
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Branch Diameter ◽  
Reference Tree ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Tree Branch

Detailed forest inventory and mensuration of individual trees have drawn attention of research society mainly to support sustainable forest management. This study aims at estimating individual tree attributes from high density point cloud obtained by terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The point clouds were obtained over single reference tree and group of trees in forest area. The reference tree is treated as benchmark since detailed measurements of branch diameter were made on selected branches with different sizes and locations. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured for trees in forest. Furthermore tree height, height to crown base, crown volume and tree branch volume were also estimated for each tree. Branch diameter is estimated directly from the point clouds based on semi-automatic approach of model fitting i.e. sphere, ellipse and cylinder. Tree branch volume is estimated based on the volume of the fitted models. Tree height and height to crown base are computed using histogram analysis of the point clouds elevation. Tree crown volume is estimated by fitting a convex-hull on the tree crown. The results show that the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of the estimated tree branch diameter does not have a specific trend with branch sizes and number of points used for fitting process. This explains complicated distribution of point clouds over the branches. Overall cylinder model produces good results with most branch sizes and number of point clouds for fitting. The cylinder fitting approach shows significantly better estimation results compared to sphere and ellipse fitting models.   

scholarly journals Effects of Crown Release on Growth and Quality of Even-Aged Red Maple Stands

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry F. Strong ◽  
Audra E. Hubbell ◽  
Adam H. Weise ◽  
Gayne G. Erdmann
Keyword(s):  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Lake States ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Epicormic Branches

Abstract The effects of six crown-release treatments on growth and bole quality of 54 dominant, codominant, and intermediate red maples (Acer rubrum L.) were examined in an even-aged stand in upper Michigan. Treatments included an unreleased control, a single-tree and a two-tree crown release, and a full crown-to-crown release of 5, 10, and 15 ft. Twenty-two years after treatment, all trees showed a decrease in number of defects. Trees released to 15 ft lost twice as many defects as unreleased trees. Codominants and intermediates lost twice as many defects as dominants. Overgrown knots were the most common defects and showed the greatest decrease over time. The number of epicormic branches also declined; dominants had no epicormic branches after 22 years. Growth was greater for all released trees than for unreleased trees. Twice as much growth occurred in the 15-ft treatment as in the control, but this result was not significantly greater than those of the 5- or 10-ft crown release treatments. Dominant trees grew significantly more than the intermediate trees. Twenty-two years after treatment, dominants appeared to be least affected by crown-release but had the fewest defects and largest diameters. Crown-release treatment had the greatest effect on intermediates. To maximize growth and maintain bole quality, a crown release of between 5 and 10 ft is recommended for red maple pole-size trees in the Lake States.

scholarly journals Applications of GIS-Based Software to Improve the Sustainability of a Forwarding Operation in Central Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5716
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Picchio ◽  
Francesco Latterini ◽  
Piotr S. Mederski ◽  
Damiano Tocci ◽  
Rachele Venanzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Castanea Sativa ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Precision Forestry

Reducing potential soil damage due to the passing of forest machinery is a key issue in sustainable forest management. Limiting soil compaction has a significant positive impact on forest soil. With this in mind, the aim of this work was the application of precision forestry tools, namely the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Geographic Information System (GIS), to improve forwarding operations in hilly areas, thereby reducing the soil surface impacted. Three different forest study areas located on the slopes of Mount Amiata (Tuscany, Italy) were analyzed. Extraction operations were carried out using a John Deere 1410D forwarder. The study was conducted in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppice, and two coniferous stands: black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don). The first stage of this work consisted of field surveys collecting data concerning new strip roads prepared by the forwarder operator to extract all the wood material from the forest areas. These new strip roads were detected using a GNSS system: specifically, a Trimble Juno Sb handheld data collector. The accumulated field data were recorded in GIS Software Quantum GIS 2.18, allowing the creation of strip road shapefiles followed by a calculation of the soil surface impacted during the extraction operation. In the second phase, various GIS tools were used to define a preliminary strip road network, developed to minimize impact on the surface, and, therefore, environmental disturbance. The results obtained showed the efficiency of precision forestry tools to improve forwarding operations. This electronic component, integrated with the on-board GNSS and GIS systems of the forwarder, could assure that the machine only followed the previously-planned strip roads, leading to a considerable reduction of the soil compaction and topsoil disturbances. The use of such tool can also minimize the risks of accidents in hilly areas operations, thus allowing more sustainable forest operations under all the three pillars of sustainability (economy, environment and society).

scholarly journals Towards Tree Green Crown Volume: A Methodological Approach Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihui Zhu ◽  
Christoph Kleinn ◽  
Nils Nölke
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
Convex Hulls ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Matter Production

Crown volume is a tree attribute relevant in a number of contexts, including photosynthesis and matter production, storm resistance, shadowing of lower layers, habitat for various taxa. While commonly the total crown volume is being determined, for example by wrapping a convex hull around the crown, we present here a methodological approach towards assessing the tree green crown volume (TGCVol), the crown volume with a high density of foliage, which we derive by terrestrial laser scanning in a case study of solitary urban trees. Using the RGB information, we removed the hits on stem and branches within the tree crown and used the remaining leaf hits to determine TGCVol from k-means clustering and convex hulls for the resulting green 3D clusters. We derived a tree green crown volume index (TGCVI) relating the green crown volume to the total crown volume. This TGCVI is a measure of how much a crown is “filled with green” and scale-dependent (a function of specifications of the k-means clustering). Our study is a step towards a standardized assessment of tree green crown volume. We do also address a number of remaining methodological challenges.

scholarly journals Growth features of apple varieties and forms with natural and compact crown types

2021 ◽  
Vol 845 (1) ◽  
pp. 012014
Author(s):  
A S Zemisov ◽  
A N Youshkov ◽  
N N Saveleva ◽  
L V Grigoreva ◽  
N V Borzykh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Height ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Scientific Center ◽  
Apple Varieties ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Crown Shape ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Growth Features ◽  
High Degree

Abstract This research explores the compactness of apple varieties and forms with different types of crown. Orchards on semi-vigorous rootstocks with density and high density planting systems are cost-effective in modern horticulture. For making such gardens, it is necessary to have trees with special compact crown shape. They ensure the high-quality fruits production, meeting the requirements of world standards. To date the most perspective apple varieties and forms for domestic intensive gardening from the rich gene pool of the Selection and Genetic Center of Federal State Scientific Institution «I. V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center» are identified. Varieties of folk domestic and foreign breeding took part in the creation of new genotypes. Apple varieties and promising forms (more than 160 genotypes), including from near and far abroad selection, were used as materials for crown features studying. We conducted our study by the following indicators: tree height, crown volume, “degree of compactness” and the shoot-forming ability. We found that the genotypes Sholokhovskoye, Zvezda Artemyeva, 25-7(11), 40-9(8), 36-8(21), 40-9(6), 8-7(72), 40-9(7), 36-8(17), 62-5(140) have optimal crown parameters. We recommend their use for industrial horticulture and further breeding to create restrained growth, low-volume crown, and a high degree of compactness varieties.

scholarly journals Effects of Photographic Distance on Tree Crown Attributes Calculated Using UrbanCrowns Image Analysis Software

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-179
Author(s):  
Mason Patterson ◽  
P. Eric Wiseman ◽  
Matthew Winn ◽  
Sang-mook Lee ◽  
Philip Araman
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Basic Field ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Software Utility

UrbanCrowns is a software program developed by the USDA Forest Service that computes crown attributes using a side-view digital photograph and a few basic field measurements. From an operational standpoint, it is not known how well the software performs under varying photographic conditions for trees of diverse size, which could impact measurement reproducibility and therefore software utility. Researchers evaluated the robustness of crown dimension computations made with UrbanCrowns for open-grown sugar maples (Acer saccharum) across a range of sizes from recently transplanted to full maturity. It was found that computations of both crown volume and density were highly repeatable across varying photographic distances. For the majority of tree size classes, crown volume and density varied less than 5% on average over distances ranging from 1.5× to 3.0× tree height; however, crown volume errors of 5%–10% were common for larger trees (>46 cm trunk diameter). UrbanCrowns calculations of crown volume showed strong agreement with calculations derived from equations for geometric solids, both in terms of precision (R2 = 0.9783) and accuracy (B1 = 1.0033). These findings suggest that UrbanCrowns has potential as an objective, reliable method for measuring tree crown attributes that are commonly assessed during urban forest inventories.

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