Age structure and growth of understory white spruce under aspen

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor J. Lieffers ◽  
Kenneth J. Stadt ◽  
Stan Navratil
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Diameter Increment ◽  
Understory Trees ◽  
Normal Forest

Juvenile white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) under an aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) overstory were studied in nine boreal mixedwood stands in west-central Alberta. In each stand, 50 understory white spruce were cut for stem analysis at ground level, 30, 70, 130 cm, and every 100 cm to tree height. In four stands, recruitment of these understory spruce occurred immediately after the disturbance, while in others the recruitment was delayed several decades. The period of recruitment was as short as 15–20 years or continued for decades, producing an uneven-aged understory. Trees initiated on rotten logs had a slightly lower initial annual diameter increment but did not differ in height growth compared with those initiated on normal forest floor. The annual height increment increased as the trees grew in height, presumably as they overtopped successive layers of shading vegetation. When seedlings were less than 30 cm tall they grew less than 10 cm per year, but attained growth rates of 30 cm per year or more when they were taller than 230 cm. Height growth rates for these understory trees were comparable to reported growth rates of white spruce of similar size and age from clearcut areas.

Compatible diameter and height increment models for lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, and white spruce

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thompson K. Nunifu
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Diameter Increment

In this study, compatible height and diameter increment models were fitted for lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.), trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.), and white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), using the relationship between diameter and height growth. It was assumed that tree diameter increment is directly proportional to height increment, and the proportionality constant is a function of competition and site productivity. The results showed that the fit statistics are comparable with results of other studies, with adjusted R2 ranging from 30% to 50%. A validation test of the models, using independent permanent sample plots data, showed that the short-term predictions of the models for both pure and mixedwood stands are fairly unbiased. The models also gave reasonable average height growth and diameter growth trajectories for pure stands of the three species and also projected long-term mixedwood (aspen – white spruce mixture) volume growth dynamics reasonably well. The models also projected reasonably well (i) the effect of increasing initial stem density on average diameter and height, and (ii) the stand volume compared with an older version the Mixedwood Growth Model (ver. 2000A). It was concluded that explicitly linking tree height and diameter increment models does not only have a solid ecological basis, but it also results in a compatible prediction of tree growth and stand dynamics.

scholarly journals Augstuma pieauguma mainība parastās egles (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) Tīraudzēs juvenilā vecumā = Variation of height growth of young pure Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) Stands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Baiba Jansone ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Doctoral Thesis ◽  
Juvenile Age ◽  
Growth Intensity

Norway spruce is economically the most important tree species in Northern Europe; therefore, its productivity and vitality have key role in the forest management of this region. Tree height is directly linked to the productivity of the stand and is affected by growing conditions and tree genetics. Height increment in young stands determines the further development of the stand therefore, it is important to evaluate the effect of various factors on tree height growth during this stage and assess the possibilities to improve it with silvicultural measures and tree breeding. This doctoral thesis aims to assess the effect of microenvironmental conditions and genetics on the height increment of Norway spruce at a juvenile age in planted hemiboreal forests in Latvia. The doctoral thesis summarizes seven thematically linked scientific publications, and their results indicate the possibilities for substantial improvement of the growth of Norway spruce at a juvenile age. Tree height is considerably and significantly affected by the type of soil preparation and soil fertilization with wood ash a year before planting or by applying additional fertilizer during the planting process. Furthermore, the effect of these forest management measures lasts for at least the next 10 years. Providing favorable microenvironmental conditions considerably increases the proportion of spruces with lammas shoots, which in turn, increases the total height increment of these trees. A positive feedback loop exists between the presence of apical lammas shoots and the tree height increment, leading to increased tree height in young stands. The occurrence of lammas shoots and the intra-annual development of the height increment is genetically determined. Growth intensity (mm per day) for progenies from open-pollinated families of plus-trees with larger height increment culminated later in the season, had higher growth intensity at the active growth phase and remained high for a longer period.

Growth patterns in a young western hemlock plantation infested with dwarf mistletoe

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 972-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Thomson ◽  
R. B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Root Systems ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Relative Height ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Diameter Increment ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Individual Trees

Relative height and diameter values of 22-year-old western hemlock trees (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) were normally distributed, with a constant standard deviation from year to year. Ranking of individual trees in the distribution changed with time, presumably because the root systems encountered successively more favourable or unfavourable microsites. Competition effects were detectable on height and diameter at breast height (dbh), although these effects were considerably masked by the microsite effect. Dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobiumtsugense (Rosendahl) G. N. Jones) effects were detectable on height growth, but not dbh growth. Height increment in a particular year varied in a pattern similar to February precipitation, while diameter increment varied in a pattern similar to March–May precipitation. This may account for the observation that the degree of correlation of height and diameter increments in a particular year varied from low to high.

scholarly journals Effect of Leader Clipping on Height Growth of Young Coastal Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii)

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank C. Sorensen
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Depressing Effect ◽  
Linear Fashion ◽  
Diameter Increment ◽  
Reduced Height

Abstract Leaders of 3- through 7-yr-old Douglas-fir seedlings were left unclipped or were clipped for 1 to 4 consecutive years. Terminal removal reduced height increment in a significantly linear fashion and was about 19 cm for each year clipped. All treatments had comparable height increment in the 4 yr after clipping, and the initial depressing effect on height was still present at age 23. Diameter increment was reduced but not significantly. West. J. Appl. For. 17(2):75–77

Croissance en hauteur de l'épinette noire: région de Lebel-sur-Quévillon et de Dolbeau au Québec

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1378-1386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Zarnovican
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Growth Function ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Site Class ◽  
Temporal Structures

Height growth of black spruce was studied from stem analysis in 72 circular plots of 0.1 ha located in the Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Dolbeau regions, province of Quebec. Tree age analysis showed that only 52 of these plots were evenly aged; therefore, only these were retained in the present study. Mean age determined at diameter at breast height was as variable as mean total age. The comparison of Plonski's and Vézina and Linteau's parameterized site-index curves suggested that Plonski's model is more suitable for asymptotic growth of black spruce. The comparison of parameterized average height curves from 52 plots with Plonski's curves indicated that black spruce height growth in these regions is not uniform; four different growing forms corresponding to temporal structures can be distinguished. These growing forms can have asymptotic or linear curves; these can coincide with or cut across the Plonski's site-class curves, according to the increase or decrease in height growth with age. Finally, the growing forms are also found by parameters of Korf's growth function, by height increments, and by ages at which height increment is highest.

scholarly journals Height growth and vertical development of an old-growth Pseudotsuga-Tsuga forest in southwestern Washington State, U.S.A.

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Ishii ◽  
Joel H Reynolds ◽  
E David Ford ◽  
David C Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Future Development ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Old Growth

A detailed analysis of diameter-height relationships was applied to an old-growth Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. forest in southwestern Washington State, U.S.A., to predict future development of vertical stratification among tree species. Differences among species in relative abundance and size structure resulted in diameter-height regressions of varying certainty and stability. Damage and shading had negative impacts on predicted heights and estimates of maximum attainable height (Hmax) in all species. However, species varied as to the main causes and size dependency of damage in relation to tree height. Current height-growth rates of the upper canopy species declined with increasing tree height, reaching minimum values near the predicted Hmax. The future development of the forest canopy would involve a slow invasion of the upper canopy by Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don, as P. menziesii are near their maximum attainable height, and Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes and Taxus brevifolia Nutt. are restricted to the middle to lower canopy. However, if current height-growth rates continue, P. menziesii should maintain its dominant status in the upper canopy for at least another century.

Estimating a system of nonlinear simultaneous individual tree models for white spruce in boreal mixed-species stands

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1805-1811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shongming Huang ◽  
Stephen J Titus
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Diameter Increment

A system of three interdependent, tree-level nonlinear equations was fitted. The system was used in an individual tree simulator to predict total tree height, periodic tree diameter increment, and height increment for white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) grown in boreal mixed-species stands in Alberta. Because the variables appeared on the left-hand side of the equations also appeared on the right-hand side of the equations in the system, the system was estimated using nonlinear simultaneous techniques. Testing of cross-equation correlations using the Breusch and Pagan statistic indicated that the error terms of the related equations in the system are significantly correlated, suggesting that the parameter estimates obtained from simultaneous techniques are consistent and asymptotically more efficient than those obtained from ordinary least squares procedures applied to individual equations of the system.

Patterns in height-diameter relationships for selected tree species and sites in eastern Texas

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1445-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Initial Slope ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Understory Species ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Two Parameter

Relationships between tree height and diameter at breast height were described for 15 species across a range of sites in eastern Texas using a two-parameter equation. Maximum height varied significantly from site to site within a species, but the ratio of initial slope to maximum height was generally constant. Sites favoring tall trees of one species tended to favor tall trees of all species, especially among species found in the overstory. The greatest rates of height growth for a given diameter at breast height increment were found among some midstory and understory species.

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