Site Index of Yellow-Poplar in Relation to Soils and Topography in the Allegheny Plateau of Ohio

1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38
Author(s):  
James H. Brown ◽  
Robert D. Marquard

Abstract Yellow-poplar is an important component of forest stands in much of the central and eastern United States, and areas and volumes of the species have increased significantly in recent years. Multiple regression equations using soil and topographic factors were developed for predicting height growth and site index for yellow-poplar growing on old-field sites in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau of Ohio. Equations containing only aspect, slope position, and tree age accounted for approximately 75% of the variation in heights of trees, while adding total soil depth and/or pH of the A soil horizon increased the variation accounted for to 80 to 83%. Thirty-five year site indices (based on age at breast height (bh) and height from bh to growing tip) varied from 56 to 80 ft. North. J. Appl. For. 5:34-38, March 1988

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-133
Author(s):  
James H. Brown ◽  
Charles A. Duncan

Abstract Multiple regression equations using topographic and soil factors were developed for predicting height growth and site index for red pine planted on old-field sites in the unglaciated Western and Central Allegheny Plateau Regions of Ohio. Regression equations containing slope position and aspect combined with tree age accounted for 58% of the variation in heights of trees. Height growth increased with A soil horizon thickness, and adding that variable to equations increased the variation explained to 61%; conversely, growth decreased as clay content of the B soil horizon increased and adding that factor further increased the variation accounted for to 66%. North. J. Appl. For. 7:129-133, September 1990.


2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Brown

Abstract Multiple regression equations were developed using topographic and soil factors for predicting growth and site index of white pine growing on old-field sites in the Wisconsin-aged glaciated areas of northern and western Ohio. Correlations between height growth of trees below the breast high (bh) annual growth increment and bh and above were not statistically significant and growth and site index estimates were made using age at bh and growth from the bh annual increment to the growing tip. The best estimates of heights and site index were obtained when data were subdivided into two groups. For plots having 0–10% slopes, two regression equations were developed for predicting height growth: one containing slope shape and depth to soil mottling and the other adding percent clay in the B2 soil horizon to the equation. Those equations accounted for 67 and 73%, respectively, of the variation in heights of trees and 35-year site index ranged from 62 to 82 ft, with the best growth on convex-shaped slopes having the greatest depth to mottling and the lowest clay content. For sites having slopes greater than 10%, one equation was developed containing slope position and slope percent as variables. That equation accounted for 72% of the variation in heights of trees, and site index ranged from 71 to 81 ft, with the best growth on plots at the bottom of slopes having the lowest slope percent.


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.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Brown

Abstract Growth intercept (GI) techniques were evaluated for estimating site quality in white pine stands planted on old-field sites in the Wisconsin-aged glaciated areas of northern and western Ohio. Correlations between growth of trees below the breast high (bh) annual growth increment andheight growth from bh and above were not statistically significant. Site index estimates were made using age at bh and height from the bh annual growth increment to the growing tip. Three-year and 5-year growth beginning 3 years above the bh annual increment and 10-year growth beginning oneinternode above bh were significantly more correlated with height than were intercepts beginning at bh. In multiple regression equations developed for predicting site index, 3-, 5- and 10-year intercepts, along with age at bh, accounted for 76, 77, and 80%, respectively, of the variationin tree heights and 35-year site indices varied from 60 to 83 ft. Combining clay content of the B2 soil horizon with GI and age increased the variation accounted for by 3-, 5-, and 10-year GI equations to 79, 78, and 81%, respectively, and the improvement in site index estimatesover those using GIs alone was not more than ±2 ft within any given GI measurement.


1987 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M. Lynch ◽  
John R. Bassett

Abstract In clearcut portions of 37 stands, stumps from northern red, northern pin, and white oak trees, averaging about 65 years old when felled, were measured to relate sprouting to stump diameter, estimated dbh, slope position, aspect, site index, and parent tree (stump) age. At least one vigorous sprout was produced by 80 and 77% of northern red and northern pin oak stumps, respectively, and sprouting was independent of stump diameter. In contrast, 54% of white oak stumps produced at least one vigorous sprout, and sprouting was related to stump diameter. Northern red and northern pin oaks sprouted least frequently on lower slopes, whereas white oaks sprouted least frequently on midslope positions. White oak sprouting was also less frequent on south-and west-facing slopes. Sprouting of white and northern pin oaks was weakly associated with site index. The sprouting of all species was related to tree age, but only white oak showed a consistent trend of decreased sprouting with increased tree age. An average of 134 oak stumps per acre produced at least one vigorous sprout. North. J. Appl. For. 4:142-145, Sept. 1987.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-254
Author(s):  
Eric J. Jokela ◽  
Steven B. Jack ◽  
Christopher A. Nowak

Abstract Polymorphic site index curves were developed for Norway spruce growing in unthinned, old-field plantations in the Allegheny Plateau region of central New York (reference age is 50 years at breast height). Stem analysis data were collected from 151 dominant and codominant trees representing a single but wide-spread soil catena (Bath - Lordstown - Mardin - Volusia; approx. 2.7 million ac). Site index curves at 10-ft intervals for breast height ages 10 to 50 years are furnished for field estimation. For more precise estimates, a table of site index values by 2-ft heights and 2-year ages is provided. North. J. Appl. For. 5:251-254, December 1988.


1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1100-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Henry McNab

Landform is related to environmental factors that affect site productivity in mountainous areas. I devised a simple index of landform and tested this index as a predictor of site index in the Blue Ridge physiographic province. The landform index is the mean of eight slope gradients from plot center to skyline. A preliminary test indicated that the index was significantly associated with slope position and three classes of landform (ridge, slope, and cove). In a test with data from four locations, site index of yellow-poplar (Liriodendrontulipifera L.) was significantly correlated with landform index for each location (r = 0.45–0.65). Landform index and two other topographic variables together accounted for 31 percent of the variation in yellow-poplar site index throughout the Blue Ridge province. Landform index is a conveniently measured site variable that may be useful in various forestry-related applications, including multivariate analysis of the distribution and composition of forest vegetation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Casetou-Gustafson ◽  
Harald Grip ◽  
Stephen Hillier ◽  
Sune Linder ◽  
Bengt A. Olsson ◽  
...  

Abstract. Reliable and accurate methods for estimating soil mineral weathering rates are required tools in evaluating the sustainability of increased harvesting of forest biomass and assessments of critical loads of acidity. A variety of methods that differ in concept, temporal and spatial scale, and data requirements are available for measuring weathering rates. In this study, causes of discrepancies in weathering rates between methods were analysed and were classified as being either conceptual (inevitable) or random. The release rates of base cations (BCs; Ca, Mg, K, Na) by weathering were estimated in podzolised glacial tills at two experimental forest sites, Asa and Flakaliden, in southern and northern Sweden, respectively. Three different methods were used: (i) historical weathering since deglaciation estimated by the depletion method, using Zr as the assumed inert reference; (ii) steady-state weathering rate estimated with the PROFILE model, based on quantitative analysis of soil mineralogy; and (iii) BC budget at stand scale, using measured deposition, leaching and changes in base cation stocks in biomass and soil over a period of 12 years. In the 0–50 cm soil horizon historical weathering of BCs was 10.6 and 34.1 mmolc m−2 yr−1, at Asa and Flakaliden, respectively. Corresponding values of PROFILE weathering rates were 37.1 and 42.7 mmolc m−2 yr−1. The PROFILE results indicated that steady-state weathering rate increased with soil depth as a function of exposed mineral surface area, reaching a maximum rate at 80 cm (Asa) and 60 cm (Flakaliden). In contrast, the depletion method indicated that the largest postglacial losses were in upper soil horizons, particularly at Flakaliden. With the exception of Mg and Ca in shallow soil horizons, PROFILE produced higher weathering rates than the depletion method, particularly of K and Na in deeper soil horizons. The lower weathering rates of the depletion method were partly explained by natural and anthropogenic variability in Zr gradients. The base cation budget approach produced significantly higher weathering rates of BCs, 134.6 mmolc m−2 yr−1 at Asa and 73.2 mmolc m−2 yr−1 at Flakaliden, due to high rates estimated for the nutrient elements Ca, Mg and K, whereas weathering rates were lower and similar to those for the depletion method (6.6 and 2.2 mmolc m−2 yr−1 at Asa and Flakaliden). The large discrepancy in weathering rates for Ca, Mg and K between the base cation budget approach and the other methods suggests additional sources for tree uptake in the soil not captured by measurements.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 871
Author(s):  
Haifei Lu ◽  
Jianmin Xu ◽  
Guangyou Li ◽  
Wangshu Liu

Background and Objectives: It is important to match species needs with site conditions for sustainable forestry. In Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantations in southern Yunnan, China, species-site mismatches have led to inappropriate expansion and management, which has degraded forests and decreased efficiency in plantation production. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between tree growth and site productivity. We empirically explored site features and classified site types within these plantations in southern Yunnan. Our objective was to develop a theoretical basis for improving site selection for afforestation, and to establish intensive management in that region. Materials and Methods: 130 standard plots were set up in 1−15-year-old eucalyptus plantations in Pu’er and Lincang. We used quantification theory to examine the relationship between dominant tree growth traits and site factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis and canonical correlation analysis were applied to classify sites and evaluate the growth potential of E. urophylla × E. grandis plantations, respectively. Results: The multiple correlation coefficient between eight site factors (altitude, slope, slope position, aspect, soil depth, texture, bulk density, and litter thickness) and the quantitative growth of the dominant tree was 0.834 (p < 0.05). Slope position, altitude, and soil depth were the main factors contributing to the variation in stand growth. Plantation growth was best on lower slopes at relatively low altitude, where thick and weathered red soil layers existed. Conversely, the poorest plantations were located on upper slopes at higher altitude, with a thin semi-weathered purple soil layer. The soil factors total nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), trace boron (B), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) content, available phosphorous (P), and organic matter content in the soil influenced plantation growth. Conclusions. The addition of N, P, and K fertilizer as well as trace elements such as B, Cu, and Zn can promote the productivity of these plantations.


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