Unveiling effects of growth conditions on crown architecture and growth potential of Scots pine trees

Trees adapt to their growing conditions by regulating the sizes of their parts and their relationships. For example, removal or death of adjacent trees increases the growing space and the amount of light received by the remaining trees enabling their crowns to expand. Knowledge about the effects of silvicultural practices on crown size and shape as well as about the quality of branches affecting the shape of a crown is, however, still limited. Thus, the aim was to study the crown structure of individual Scots pine trees in forest stands with varying stem densities due to past forest management practices. Furthermore, we wanted to understand how crown and stem attributes as well as tree growth affects stem area at the height of maximum crown diameter (SAHMC), which could be used as a proxy for tree growth potential. We used terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to generate attributes characterizing crown size and shape. The results showed that increasing stem density decreased Scots pine crown size. TLS provided more detailed attributes for crown characterization compared to traditional field measurements. Furthermore, decreasing stem density increased SAHMC and strong relationships (Spearman correlations >0.5) were found between SAHMC and crown and stem size as well as stem growth. Thus, this study provided quantitative and more comprehensive characterization of Scots pine crowns and their growth potential.

A Crown Morphology-Based Approach to Individual Tree Detection in Subtropical Mixed Broadleaf Urban Forests Using UAV LiDAR Data

Owing to the complex forest structure and large variation in crown size, individual tree detection in subtropical mixed broadleaf forests in urban scenes is a great challenge. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a powerful tool for individual tree detection due to its ability to acquire high density point cloud that can reveal three-dimensional crown structure. Tree detection based on a local maximum (LM) filter, which is applied on a canopy height model (CHM) generated from LiDAR data, is a popular method due to its simplicity. However, it is difficult to determine the optimal LM filter window size and prior knowledge is usually needed to estimate the window size. In this paper, a novel tree detection approach based on crown morphology information is proposed. In the approach, LMs are firstly extracted using a LM filter whose window size is determined by the minimum crown size and then the crown morphology is identified based on local Gi* statistics to filter out LMs caused by surface irregularities contained in CHM. The LMs retained in the final results represent treetops. The approach was applied on two test sites characterized by different forest structures using UAV LiDAR data. The sensitivity of the approach to parameter setting was analyzed and rules for parameter setting were proposed. On the first test site characterized by irregular tree distribution and large variation in crown size, the detection rate and F-score derived by using the optimal combination of parameter values were 72.9% and 73.7%, respectively. On the second test site characterized by regular tree distribution and relatively small variation in crown size, the detection rate and F-score were 87.2% and 93.2%, respectively. In comparison with a variable-size window tree detection algorithm, both detection rates and F-score values of the proposed approach were higher.

A tree’s quest for light—optimal height and diameter growth under a shading canopy

For trees in forests, striving for light is matter of life and death, either by growing taller toward brighter conditions or by expanding the crown to capture more of the available light. Here, we present a mechanistic model for the development path of stem height and crown size, accounting for light capture and growth, as well as mortality risk. We determine the optimal growth path among all possible trajectories using dynamic programming. The optimal growth path follows a sequence of distinct phases: (i) initial crown size expansion, (ii) stem height growth toward the canopy, (iii) final expansion of the crown in the canopy and (iv) seed production without further increase in size. The transition points between these phases can be optimized by maximizing fitness, defined as expected lifetime reproductive production. The results imply that to reach the canopy in an optimal way, trees must consider the full profile of expected increasing light levels toward the canopy. A shortsighted maximization of growth based on initial light conditions can result in arrested height growth, preventing the tree from reaching the canopy. The previous result can explain canopy stratification, and why canopy species often get stuck at a certain size under a shading canopy. The model explains why trees with lower wood density have a larger diameter at a given tree height and grow taller than trees with higher wood density. The model can be used to implement plasticity in height versus diameter growth in individual-based vegetation and forestry models.

Modelling the Crown Profile of Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) with a Combination of Component and Aggregate Measures of Crown Size

Research Highlights: We present statistical methods for using crown measurement data from multiple destructive sampling studies to model crown profiles in the Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS) and evaluate it using component (branch-level) and aggregate (tree-level) predictions. Combining data collected under different sampling protocols offered unique challenges. Background and Objectives: The approach to modelling crown profiles was based on Mitchell’s monograph on Douglas-fir growth and simulated dynamics. The functional form defines the potential crown size and shape and governs the rate of crown expansion. With the availability of additional data, we are able to update these functions as part of ongoing TASS development and demonstrate the formulation and fitting of new crown profile equations for stand-grown western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. Materials and Methods: Detailed measurements on 1616 branches from 153 trees were collected for TASS development over a 40-year period. Data were collected under two different sampling protocols and the methods were designed to allow the use of data from both protocols. Data collected on all branches were then introduced through the application of the ratio of length of each of the selected branches to the largest branch in the internode (RL). Results: A mixed-effects model with two random effects, which accounted for tree-level variation, provided the best fit. From that, a model that expressed one parameter as a function of another with one random effect was developed to complement the structure of the Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS). The models generally over-estimated crown size when compared to the projected crown area recorded from field measurements, and a scalar adjustment factor of 0.89 was applied that minimised mean-squared error of the differences. The new model is fit from direct measures of crown radius and predicts narrower crown shapes than previous functions used in TASS.

Axial fan selection for pneumatic fruit shaker

The article describes a method for an axial fan selection for a pneumatic fruit shaker. Based on the design of the pneumatic shaker and the input parameters of its operation (air flow rate at the nozzle exit and the crown size of the treated trees), the fan characteristics (capacity, generated pressure, and power consumption) are determined. The brand of suitable commercially available fan is recommended.