Toward developing a direct relation between gross volume increment and stand density

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 852-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Dean ◽  
Scott D. Roberts ◽  
Robert S. Seymour

A general form for expressing gross volume increment in terms of stand density is derived and tested with data from spacing trials in red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The equation relates the stand sum of individual-tree volume increment per metre height increment to a power function of quadratic mean diameter times tree density. The proposed equation fit the data best when the model included an intercept. Within each species, the fits were unbiased with respect to the independent variables, plantation age, and site height, and with the exception of the youngest ages for red alder and loblolly pine, they were unbiased with respect to the plot sums of individual-tree volume increment divided by individual height increment. Exponents estimated for quadratic mean diameter for each species ranged from 1.58 to 1.80. The resulting equations indicate a linear relationship between the stand sum of individual-tree volume increment per metre height increment and stand density. Scattergrams of gross-volume increment per hectare per year and stand density can be recovered by multiplying the predicted values of the regressions by Lorey’s height. The regressions support the hypothesis that each metre of height growth produces consistent changes in stem size, regardless of initial tree size, age, or site quality, and implies that the change in stem size is a predictable power function of stem diameter for an individual tree or quadratic mean diameter for a stand.

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 833
Author(s):  
Daesung Lee ◽  
Jungkee Choi

Appropriate management of stand density is necessary to avoid wasted growing space and overcrowding-induced self-thinning and therefore to optimize profitability. We developed a Gingrich-style stocking chart for Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora), Korean white pine (P. koraiensis), and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) in Korea. Datasets for even-aged stands were categorized into two censored datasets via relative density based on species-specific stand density indices to assign adequate plots for tree allometry. Censored plot data for maximum density on full stocking were used to develop A-level stocking based on mean individual tree area. In censored plot data for minimum density on full stocking, individual trees represented open-grown trees, and a crown competition factor of 100 was proposed as B-level stocking. Based on parameters estimated from allometry, stocking diagrams comprising quadratic mean diameter, number of trees, and basal area were correctly expressed. A-level stocking at the same quadratic mean diameter revealed that Korean white pine had the most trees and largest basal area, while Japanese larch had the fewest trees and smallest basal area. In contrast, B-level stocking disclosed that Japanese larch had the most trees and basal area, whereas Korean white pine had the fewest trees and smallest basal area. The stocking diagrams suggest that silvicultural treatments for these species should be species-specific.


1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Bailey ◽  
Kenneth D. Ware

A measure of kind and level of thinning is developed and its relationship to other stand attributes such as number of trees, basal area, and volume removed in thinning is quantified. This measure or thinning index is based on the ratio of the quadratic mean diameter of thinned trees to the quadratic mean diameter of all trees before thinning. The thinning index is then logically incorporated into a thinning multiplier from which is derived a compatible basal-area growth projection model to generalize the previous concepts for thinning effects in systems for predicting growth and yield. Empirical tests with data from thinned and unthinned natural stands of loblolly pine, from thinned and unthinned slash pine plantations, and from thinned western larch stands show the model to provide estimates with improved properties. Hence, the thinning index and the thinning multiplier are also proposed for other situations involving effects of thinning.


2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C.G. Goelz ◽  
J.S. Meadows ◽  
T.C. Fristoe

Abstract Three 4-yr-old stands (or locations) were selected for treatment. Treatment consisted of two components: (1) thinning water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) stump sprouts and (2) cutting all stems of Carolina ash (Fraxinus caroliniana Mill.) and black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.) (cleaning). Contrary to results in other areas, survival of water tupelo coppice was very high and was not affected by the treatments. Cleaning had little or no positive effect on the individual tree or stand-level variables we measured. Thinning sprout clumps significantly increased diameter growth of water tupelo; the effect of thinning was considerably larger for one location. Stand basal area growth was decreased by thinning sprout clumps. However, quadratic mean diameter was increased by thinning, particularly at one location. Although thinning decreased basal area 5 yr after treatment, the increase in quadratic mean diameter was sufficient for there to be no significant effect of thinning on total volume 5 yr after treatment. Because of this, and in anticipation of imminent natural thinning of the unthinned plots, we suspect that the thinned plots will eventually have significantly greater standing volume than the unthinned plots, at least for the location where density of large sprouts was initially the highest. Rotation age will be decreased for that stand because stems will achieve merchantable size sooner. Thus we consider precommercial thinning of sprout clumps to be a potentially effective practice in stands with a high density of large water tupelo sprouts. South. J. Appl. For. 25(4):165–172.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J Dean ◽  
Anthony W D’Amato ◽  
Brian J Palik ◽  
Mike A Battaglia ◽  
Constance A Harrington

Abstract Standardizing gross volume increment on periodic height increment of the dominant trees is a means of minimizing the effects of site quality and age in growth–growing-stock relations; however, volume increment per height increment contains more information than just a normalization method for fitting growth models. This study builds on previous work suggesting that the cumulative sum of the ratios between individual-tree volume increment and height increment may be a direct measure of stand density. We used data from several levels of growing-stock studies for Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and red pine to explore this hypothesis. Regression analysis indicated that the sum of the ratios is proportional to(Dqx⋅N), the underlying equation form of Reineke’s stand density index. Stem growth is a function of canopy dynamics, and additional analyses showed that volume added per unit of height growth was also related to canopy architecture, increasing with decreasing live-crown ratio and increasing foliage density. The linkages between growth, canopy architecture, intermediary canopy dynamics, and (Dqx⋅N) support the hypothesis that the sum of the tree ratios between volume increment and height increment is a direct measure of site occupancy due to its association between growth and corresponding resource use. Study Implications Stand density indices are fundamental to managing the development of forest stands to achieve habitat and production goals, and advanced statistical techniques are providing silviculturists with more precise tools to manage density. However, the increased precision is only available with data from self-thinning stands, rare in managed forests. Furthermore, silviculturists must assume that constant fractions of relative stand density are parallel to fitted self-thinning trajectories. The results of this study show that the slope of the stand density gradient can be determined without data from self-thinning stands and the gradient in stand density runs parallel to the trajectory of self-thinning stands.


1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. G. Goelz

Abstract A stocking guide was developed from the data of Putnam, et al. (1960). The form of the stocking guide follows Gingrich (1967), although the “B”-line is based on the suggested residual stocking of Putnam, et al. (1960) rather than on minimum full stocking. This stocking guide is similar to the stocking guide for central upland hardwoods constructed by Gingrich, except that 100% stocking is 5-7 ft2² of basal area lower for the southern bottomland guide, across a range of quadratic mean diameter. South. J. Appl. For. 19(3):103-104.


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bailian Li ◽  
Claire G. Williams ◽  
W.C. Carlson ◽  
Constance A. Harrington ◽  
C.C. Lambeth

Height growth of loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) was measured in trees subjected to one of five irrigation and fertilization regimes in a closely spaced genetic test for 3 years. Shoot components of 3rd-year annual height increment were measured over two contrasting treatments. Juvenile height and number of stem units in summer growth length in the fully irrigated and fertilized short-term test regime exhibited (i) the highest juvenile-mature correlations (family mean correlation = 0.41–0.68), (ii) high individual-tree heritabilities (0.38–0.44), which were two- to three-fold higher than older tree values in a conventional genetic test of the same families, (iii) high genetic stability across two extreme short-term test treatments (genetic correlation = 0.61–0.80), and (iv) an efficiency in genetic gain per generation of 81–87% relative to selection on height at age 8 years.


1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijan Payandeh ◽  
Pia Papadopol

Abstract "ONTWIGS" (an adaptation of "LSTWIGS" for Ontario), was partially calibrated for permanent plots data sets from northern Ontario. Stand attributes used for calibration were quadratic mean diameter, number of trees, and basal area/ha. Simple local calibration was accomplished by adjusting tree survival and potential diameter growth coefficients so as to reduce the prediction errors to within 10% of the actual values over a 5-yr period. This resulted in prediction errors ranging from -9.9 to 6.9%, but with an overall average of only: -1.4, 1.0, and 0.2% for the spruce fir data; from -8.5 to 2.8%, but with an overall average of only -0.7, 0.5, and 0.4% for a black spruce drainage and fertilization experiment; and from -6.6 to 9.8%, but with an overall average of only -1.7, 0.0, and -1.8% for an unthinned red pine plantation for number of trees/ha, quadratic mean diameter, and basal area/ha, respectively. Results indicate that "ONTWIGS" may be locally calibrated through simple procedures to increase its prediction accuracy to ±5% of the observed stand attributes, averaging less than 3% for the major timber species in northern Ontario and for short to medium projection periods. However, the uncalibrated model should be used with caution for short terms, only and where no other projection tools are available. More extensive calibrations of "ONTWIGS" on larger and more representative data sets are currently underway. North. J. Appl. For. 11(2):41-46.


1997 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Newton

Algorithmic versions of stand density management diagrams (SDMDs) were developed for natural and managed black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands. Specifically, the IBM-compatible PC-based algorithms (1) graphically illustrate site-specific size-density trajectories for eight user-specified initial density regimes, (2) given (1), calculate and subsequent tabulate periodic yield estimates (mean dominant height, density, mean volume, total volume, total merchantable volume, quadratic mean diameter, and basal area), and (3) given (2), graphically illustrate empirically-derived yield production curves for total merchantable volume ha−1 and stems m−3 with user-specified operability criteria superimposed. Instructions on acquiring the executable algorithmic versions including the required graphical subroutines via the Internet are described. Currently, the algorithms are restricted in applicability to central insular Newfoundland. Key words: stand density management diagrams, black spruce, algorithms, microcomputer, World-Wide Web (WWW), hypertext browser, file transfer protocol (FTP).


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Osawa ◽  
Anatoly P Abaimov ◽  
Olga A Zyryanova

A method was proposed for quantitatively reconstructing structural development over time of even-aged monospecific forests and was applied to a larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) stand in Siberia. It relies on samples obtained at one-time observation and some simple assumptions considered general in even-aged stands. Tree-ring data taken from breast height of a group of the largest trees and those measured at various stem heights of several individuals representing the range of tree sizes in the plot are used for the estimation. Stand density and parameters of stem volume distribution at a given time in the past were calculated with the "stem slenderness index," and with an assumption of the -3/2 power distribution for the distribution function of stem size, respectively. By developing time-dependent allometric relationships for individual tree attributes, the whole-stand values of stem volume and its increment were reconstructed for several decades of stand development. Estimated history of the changes in stand density, total stem volume, and stem volume growth for the dense larch stand examined, mostly agreed with a separate estimation by the self-thinning assumption.


2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 700-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Penner ◽  
D E Swift ◽  
R. Gagnon ◽  
J. Brissette

A stand management density diagram (SDMD) is presented for balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) forests in New Brunswick. The SDMD incorporates a maximum size density line, as well as quadratic mean diameter and top height isolines. Several mortality functions are evaluated. The resultant SDMD should be a useful tool for projecting early stand development and determining the timing and intensity of thinnings. Key words: Acadian Forest Region, mortality curves


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