Foliage distribution in old-growth coniferous tree canopies

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Massman

The vertical distribution of foliage for several old-growth trees is discussed and modeled. The data include the foliage distribution of nine Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) crowns, the foliage distribution of a sugar pine (Pinuslambertiana Dougl.) crown, and the foliage distribution of a composite of the nine Douglas-fir trees which represents the stand canopy. The data show that the foliage is distributed asymmetrically in the crown with the maximum amount often located at a height approximately equal to 80% of the tree height. The data further show that the crown base is 9–30 m above the ground. Five different mathematical models of the foliage distribution (a normal distribution, a chi-square distribution, a beta distribution, a difference of exponentials, and a chi-square-like distribution) are fitted to the data and compared. The beta distribution and the chi-square distribution appear to fit the data slightly better than the others; but the differences in r2 between all the models are often small. The normal distribution has the advantage that it shows the least variability from one tree to the next; however, it also has the disadvantage that it is significantly different from zero at the top of all the tree crowns modeled here.

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 1888-1894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Copes

The rooting percentages of 14 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) clones were examined annually from 1974 to 1988. The trees were 10 and 13 years old in 1974 and were pruned to 2.0 m in 1978 and 1979 and then recut annually to 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 m, starting in 1983. The pruned trees showed no evidence of decreased rooting percentage even after 15 years; average rooting increased from 47% in 1974 to 74% in 1986. Rooting percentage was significantly influenced by tree height. Cuttings collected from 0.5 m tall ramets exhibited better rooting than cuttings from 1.0 or 2.0 m tall ramets, and cuttings from 1.0 m tall ramets rooted better than cuttings from 2.0 m tall ramets. Rooting of cuttings collected from 0.5 m high subinterval zones within trees showed a negative linear relation between rooting percentage and collection height. Cuttings collected from the 0–0.5 m zone rooted 25% better than cuttings from the 1.5–2.0 m zone of the 2 m tall trees. That difference was significant at p < 0.05. A test of rooting of larger, more orthotropic cuttings gathered from the upper flat surface of pruned ramets indicated that the cuttings from the top rooted significantly less than smaller, more plagiotropic cuttings from the contiguous side areas (24 versus 33%, respectively). Rooting comparisons of meristems of primary and secondary origin showed significantly greater rooting of secondary meristems. Comparison of rooting of second-order and first-order meristems of secondary origin indicated the second-order twigs averaged 26% better rooting than the first-order branch tips when the cuttings were collected in January and placed in the rooting beds in February.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Govinda Prasad Dhungana ◽  
Laxmi Prasad Sapkota

 Hemoglobin level is a continuous variable. So, it follows some theoretical probability distribution Normal, Log-normal, Gamma and Weibull distribution having two parameters. There is low variation in observed and expected frequency of Normal distribution in bar diagram. Similarly, calculated value of chi-square test (goodness of fit) is observed which is lower in Normal distribution. Furthermore, plot of PDFof Normal distribution covers larger area of histogram than all of other distribution. Hence Normal distribution is the best fit to predict the hemoglobin level in future.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 553d-553
Author(s):  
C.R. Unrath

Historically, most airblast chemical applications to apple orchards used a single “average” water volume, resulting in variability of coverage with tree size and also the greatest variable in chemical thinning. This coverage variability can be eliminated by properly quantifying the tree canopy, as tree row volume (TRV), and relating that volume to airblast water rate for adequate coverge. Maximum typical tree height, cross-row limb spread, and between-row spacing are used to quantify the TRV. Further refinement is achieved by adjusting the water volume for tree canopy density. The North Carolina TRV model allows a density adjustment from 0.7 gal/1000 ft3 of TRV for young, very open tree canopies to 1.0 gal/1000 ft3 of TRV for large, thick tree canopies to deliver a full dilute application for maximum water application (to the point of run-off). Most dilute pesticide applications use 70% of full dilute to approach the point of drip (pesticide dilute) to not waste chemicals and reduce non-target environmental exposure. From the “chemical load” (i.e., lb/acre) calculated for the pesticide dilute application, the proper chemical load for lower (concentrate) water volumes can be accurately determined. Another significant source of variability is thinner application response is spray distribution to various areas of the tree. This variability is related to tree configuration, light, levels, fruit set, and natural thinning vs. the need for chemical thinning. Required water delivery patterns are a function of tree size, form, spacing, and density, as well as sprayer design (no. of nozzles and fan size). The TRV model, density adjustments, and nozzle patterns to effectively hit the target for uniform crop load will be addressed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuming Zhang ◽  
Shangshu Cai ◽  
Xinlian Liang ◽  
Jie Shao ◽  
Ronghai Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The universal occurrence of randomly distributed dark holes (i.e., data pits appearing within the tree crown) in LiDAR-derived canopy height models (CHMs) negatively affects the accuracy of extracted forest inventory parameters. Methods We develop an algorithm based on cloth simulation for constructing a pit-free CHM. Results The proposed algorithm effectively fills data pits of various sizes whilst preserving canopy details. Our pit-free CHMs derived from point clouds at different proportions of data pits are remarkably better than those constructed using other algorithms, as evidenced by the lowest average root mean square error (0.4981 m) between the reference CHMs and the constructed pit-free CHMs. Moreover, our pit-free CHMs show the best performance overall in terms of maximum tree height estimation (average bias = 0.9674 m). Conclusion The proposed algorithm can be adopted when working with different quality LiDAR data and shows high potential in forestry applications.


2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 602-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi E Morgantini ◽  
John L Kansas

Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. is developing harvest strategies that will maintain appropriate levels of late to very late seral stages ("old growth") in its Drayton Valley Forest Management Area. This management area encompasses 490 570 ha in the Foothills and Rocky Mountain Natural Regions of west-central Alberta. In planning for future forest landscapes, Weyerhaeuser intends to maintain a range of age structures consistent with the ecological processes characteristic of each natural region and subregion. The absence of a discrete point separating mature forest from old growth means that the age at which a stand is currently identified as "old growth" and subject to special management practices is arbitrary. In a research study initiated in the summer of 2000, we seek to understand the differences in structure and composition between forests of various ages and topographic site conditions (elevation, aspect, and slope angle). Using 95 sampling plots in a 123-km2 study area in the Upper Foothills and Subalpine Natural Subregions, we quantified vegetation structure and composition for stands ranging in age from 70 to 300 years. Variables measured and analysed included live-tree height and diameter, snag density, diameter and decay class, downed woody material volume, diameter and decay class, vascular plant species richness, sapling and regeneration density, and duff depth. An old-growth index was developed for each sampled stand that took into account multiple attributes. Preliminary results indicate that specific attributes (snag basal area and density, decay stage and density of downed woody material, variation in live-tree age, and variation in live-tree height and age) separate a younger forest from a more mature one and hence may describe "old-growth" conditions. The age of onset of these old-growth attributes is variable but appears to occur between 160 and 180 years. Key factors other than stand age that contribute to or modify the development of old-growth attributes (as measured by the old-growth index) are elevation and moisture regime (as modified by site position). Further investigation is required to more accurately assess the effect of site factors on old-growth attributes. These results are now used by Weyerhaeuser to address retention of late seral stages in long-term forest planning. Key words: old growth, mature forests, old growth protection, forest management, Alberta, Weyerhaeuser, Rocky Mountains foothills


2002 ◽  
Vol os9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raman Bedi ◽  
Jackie A Champion ◽  
Roger Davies

Introduction In order to promote training and education in special-needs dentistry an attempt was made to introduce problem-based learning (PBL) as a method of postgraduate dental education. The aim of this paper was to review the principles of PBL and report on a case study using this methodology. Method The case study was of a PBL session, on the subject of ‘problems of obtaining appropriate dental care for people with epilepsy’, undertaken at a national conference. Delegates were asked to complete a pre- and post-session questionnaire on PBL and their attitudes to the session. Results The session received a mixed response. Only 33 (35%) thought the session was valuable and only 20 (31%) thought it was better than conventional teaching methods and yet over half (55%) said they would like to attend more PBL in special-needs dentistry. Professionals complementary to dentistry were more likely to find the PBL session of value and to prefer the method to a more conventional format than dentists were (chi-square=5.5, df=1, p<0.05 and chi-square=5.9, df=1, p<0.05 respectively). Conclusion Valuable feedback was received from delegates. This will enable improvements to be made in future courses so that the effectiveness of PBL can be optimised.


1983 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Overall ◽  
Robert R. Starbuck

A binomial model is proposed for testing the significance of differences in binary response probabilities in two independent treatment groups. Without correction for continuity, the binomial statistic is essentially equivalent to Fisher’s exact probability. With correction for continuity, the binomial statistic approaches Pearson’s chi-square. Due to mutual dependence of the binomial and F distributions on the beta distribution, a simple F statistic can be used for computation instead of the binomial.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-45
Author(s):  
Li Yan ◽  
Jed Cappallazzi ◽  
Jeffrey J. Morrell

Abstract The effect of pretreatment with either boron or glycerol followed by thermal modification on the durability of Douglas-fir heartwood was evaluated in an American Wood Protection Association ground proximity test in Hilo, Hawaii. Non–thermally modified samples were generally more heavily decayed than any of the modified woods, but there was no consistent effect of different thermal modification conditions on decay resistance. Thermally modified woods tended to perform better than untreated timbers but not as well as copper azole–treated Douglas-fir heartwood lumber in test at the same site. The results are discussed in relation to how the extreme site conditions might have made it difficult for thermally modified materials to perform.


1988 ◽  
Vol 37 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ahsanullah ◽  
G. G. Hamedani

In this note various characterizations of the univariate normal distribution based on the chi-square and Cauchy distributions are given.


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