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Crown development: an index of stand density

Informally Refereed

Abstract

A study of crown characteristics of several hundred open-grown oak, hickory, and Norway spruce trees in Iowa revealed a high correlation between stem diameter and crown area. Consideration of this relationship led to the idea that perhaps here was a realistic way to measure and evaluate stand density or stocking. If, given unlimited growing space, trees of a certain species and diameter developed crowns of almost identical size, why couldn't the extent to which this development is limited in a forest stand be used as an index of stand density?

Citation

Krajicek, John E.; Brinkman, Kenneth A. 1957. Crown development: an index of stand density. Station Note 108. Columbus, OH: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Central States Forest Experiment Station. 2 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/34824