scholarly journals Effect of species composition, stand density and site index on the basal area increment of oak trees (Quercussp.) in mixed stands with beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) in northern France

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Hein ◽  
Jean-François Dhôte
1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 1550-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Kittredge Jr.

Research in 40- to 60-year-old even-aged mixed hardwood stands in southern New England suggests a stratified canopy structure by species, with red oak crowns occupying the uppermost canopy stratum. The basal area growth of individual red oak trees with crowns in this uppermost canopy stratum is negatively related to the basal area of neighboring oaks with crowns in the same stratum. The total basal area of neighboring trees with crowns in this stratum has no effect on individual oak growth. Similarly, the basal area of trees in lower strata has no significant effect on the growth of oaks with crowns in the uppermost canopy stratum. Crown width of individual oaks is negatively related to the basal area of neighboring oaks with crowns in the uppermost canopy stratum. Also, both the total foliar biomass per tree and the efficiency of that foliage in producing basal area increment are negatively related to the quantity of surrounding oaks with crowns in the uppermost canopy stratum. These results imply that basal area increment of individual red oaks in the overstory depends on the species composition of the mixture (i.e., the proportion of red oaks in the mixture) and the resulting competition for growing space in the canopy.


1983 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert N. Muller

Abstract An old-growth forest and a 35-year-old, second-growth forest on the Cumberland Plateau were studied to compare species composition and structure. Species composition and total basal area of the two stands did not differ, although total stand density was 19 percent lower and basal area of commercial species was 25 percent higher in the old-growth than in the second-growth stand. Analysis of size-class distributions showed that both stands were best represented by an inverse J-shaped distribution, which best describes old-age stands. The rapid regeneration of the second-growth stand seems to be the result of minimal disturbance to accumulated nutrient pools in the soil. The importance of these accumulated nutrient pools and implications for forest management on the Cumberland Plateau are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1471-1482
Author(s):  
Woongsoon Jang ◽  
Bianca N.I. Eskelson ◽  
Louise de Montigny ◽  
Catherine A. Bealle Statland ◽  
Derek F. Sattler ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to quantify growth responses of three major commercial conifer species (lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson), interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco), and spruce (white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and hybrid spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelm. × Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière))) to various fertilizer blends in interior British Columbia, Canada. Over 25 years, growth-response data were repeatedly collected across 46 installations. The fertilizer blends were classified into three groups: nitrogen only; nitrogen and sulfur combined; and nitrogen, sulfur, and boron combined. The growth responses for stand volume, basal area, and top height were calculated through absolute and relative growth rate ratios relative to a controlled group. Fertilizer blend, inverse years since fertilization, site index, stand density at fertilization, and their interactions with the fertilizer blend were used as explanatory variables. The magnitude and significance of volume and basal area growth responses to fertilization differed by species, fertilizer-blend groups, and stand-condition variables (i.e., site index and stand density). In contrast, the response in top height growth did not differ among fertilization blends, with the exception of the nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer subgroup for lodgepole pine. The models developed in this study will be incorporated into the current growth and yield fertilization module (i.e., Table Interpolation Program for Stand Yields (TIPSY)), thereby supporting guidance of fertilization applications in interior forests in British Columbia.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Schwaiger ◽  
Werner Poschenrieder ◽  
Peter Biber ◽  
Hans Pretzsch

The control and maintenance of species composition of mixed stands is a highly relevant objective of forest management in order to provide multifunctionality and climatic resilience. In contrast to this requirement there is, however, an evident lack of quantitative methods for mixture regulation. In this context, we propose an approach for the regulation of mixture proportions that has been implemented in a forest management model. The approach considers species-specific growth characteristics and takes into account the mixing effect on stand density. We present five exemplary simulations that apply the regulation. Each simulation maintains one of five desired species compositions. In these simulations, we consider the species European beech and Norway spruce under good site conditions, thus representing the most prominent mixed stands in Central Europe. Based on this model experiment, we analyze the potential benefit of controlled mixing regulation for achieving desired levels and combinations of ecosystem service provision, in particular productivity, diversity, and groundwater recharge. We found that a constant 50% basal area share of beech (equivalent growing space share of 80% to 70% depending on stand age) provided the most balanced supply of ecosystem services. Prominently, groundwater recharge considerably decreased when beech basal area shares were held below 50%. We discuss the ecological and practical implications of the regulation approach and different mixing shares.


1980 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy T. Ku ◽  
James M. Sweeney ◽  
Victor B. Shelburne

Abstract Since 1969, the southern pine beetle (SPB, Dendroctonus frontalis, Zimm) has spread northwest through 24 southern Arkansas counties. Analysis of trees in 984 infested plots indicated that attacked trees were in a stressed state with smaller crowns, thinner bark, and slower growth than unattacked trees. Comparison with 509 uninfested plots showed trees on infested plots had slower growth rates, thinner bark, and occurred on sites with lower site index and less slope. Disturbance, notably lightning and logging, significantly increased a stand's susceptibility to beetle attack. Undisturbed infested plots were significantly younger with smaller stand d.b.h. and higher basal area than undisturbed uninfested plots. All factors which reduced radial growth predisposed stands to SPB attack, but high stand density had the most significant influence. The hazard-rating system presented indicates a pine stand's susceptibility to attack. Reduction of basal area to below 100 square feet per acre in carefully conducted thinning operations is the recommended practice to minimize SPB losses.


2004 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lacerte ◽  
G R Larocque ◽  
M. Woods ◽  
W J Parton ◽  
M. Penner

The Lake States variant of the FVS (Forest Vegetation Simulator) model (LS-FVS), also known as the LS-TWIGS variant of FVS, was validated for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests in northern Ontario. Individual-tree data from 537 remeasured sample plots were used. This dataset included different combinations of site index, stand density and age. It was possible to compare observations and predictions for different projection length periods. The validation exercise included a biological consistency analysis, the computation of mean percent difference (MPD) for stand density, stand basal area, top height and quadratic mean diameter (QMD) and the comparison of observed and predicted individual-tree dbh. The biological consistency analysis indicated that LS-FVS logically predicted the effect of site index on top height, stand basal area and QMD for black spruce and jack pine. However, the decrease in stand basal area at young ages was inconsistent with the normal development pattern of the forest stands under study and was attributed to deficiencies in the prediction of mortality. LS-FVS was found to underpredict stand density, stand basal area and top height and to over-predict QMD. Even though there were large errors in the prediction of change in stand density, LS-FVS was nevertheless consistent in the prediction of the shape of the dbh size distribution. Key words: FVS, Forest Vegetation Simulator, validation, biological consistency analysis


2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don C. Bragg

Abstract By adapting data from national and state champion lists and the predictions of an existing height model, an exponential function was developed to improve tree height estimation. As a case study, comparisons between the original and redesigned model were made with eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). For example, the heights predicted by the new design varied by centimeters from the original until the pines were more than 25 cm dbh, after which the differences increased notably. On a very good site (50-year base age site index [SI50] = 27.4 m) at the upper end of the range of basal area (BA; 68.9 m2/ha) for the region, the redesigned model predicted a champion-sized eastern white pine (actual measurements: 97.0 cm dbh, 50.9 m tall) to be 51.3 m tall, compared with 38.8 m using the original formulation under the same conditions. The NORTHWDS Individual Response Model (NIRM) individual tree model further highlighted the influence of these differences with long-term simulations of eastern white pine height. On a moderate site (SI50 = 18.7 m) with intermediate (BA = 15 m2/ha) stand density, NIRM results show that the original model consistently predicts heights to be 20–30% lower for mature white pine.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
John-Pascal Berrill ◽  
Kevin L. O’Hara

Estimating site productivity in irregular structures is complicated by variations in stand density, structure, composition in mixed stands, and suppression experienced by subordinate trees. Our objective was to develop an alternate to site index (SI) and demonstrate its application in models of individual-tree and stand growth. We analyzed coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (Lamb. ex D. Don) Endl.) tree and stand growth in a grid of 234 permanent sample plots covering a 110 ha study area in north coastal California. Partial harvesting created a mosaic of densities and openings throughout the 60-year-old redwood-dominated forest. Redwood SI was a poor predictor of volume increment (VI) per hectare among redwood in each plot over two decades after harvest. A new index of redwood basal area increment (BAI) productivity, calculated using inventory data for all stems in even-aged stands and the oldest cohort of multiaged stands, was a stronger predictor of VI. Diameter increment of individual redwood trees correlated strongly with stand density and the new BAI index. Forest managers should expect widely divergent responses following partial harvesting in crowded even-aged stands, with the greatest response coming from dominant redwoods with long crowns retained in areas with low residual stand density and high BAI index.


1979 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-664
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Kushmaul ◽  
Michael D. Cain ◽  
Charles E. Rowell ◽  
Richard L. Porterfield

Abstract Stand/site data from infested stands were compared with those from the general forest. Findings supported earlier research relating high basal area, high stand density, high proportion of pines, reduced radial growth rate, low soil pH, and high site index to increased southern pine beetle activity in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Also, increased understory vegetation and thicker bark of potential host trees were found to favor beetle attack. Discriminant models were derived from data obtained from infested and general stand (baseline) plots and can be used to rank forest stands as to susceptibility to southern pine beetle attack. Forest Sci. 25:656-664.


1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. West

Growth of diameter of individual trees can be expressed as diameter increment or basal area increment. Little work has been done to determine which of these parameters is preferable for use in growth studies. This paper examines growth of trees in pure and mixed stands of even-aged, regrowth forest of Eucalyptusregnans, E. obliqua, and E. globulus, aged 6-80 years, thinned and unthinned, in southeastern Tasmania. Weighted least squares regression equations are developed to relate diameter and basal area increments, over 1- to 6-year increment periods, to initial tree diameter in 29 growth plots. The correlation between basal area increment and initial diameter was always greater than that between diameter increment and initial diameter in these relationships. Despite this, the precision of estimates of future diameter in each plot is shown to be the same whether diameter or basal area increment equations are used. Data from a thinning experiment in 38- to 85-year-old, even-aged Acersaccharum, Fraxinusamericana, and Prunusserotina stands in southern Ontario are also examined and similar results obtained. It is concluded that no apriori reason exists for expressing growth as diameter increment or basal area increment in studies of these types.


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