Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Relative density: the key to stocking assessment in regional analysis—a forest survey viewpoint.

Author: MacLean, Colin D.

Date: 1979

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-078. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 1-5

Station ID: GTR-PNW-078

Description: Relative density is a measure of tree crowding compared to a reference level such as normal density. This stand attribute, when compared to management standards, indicates adequacy of stocking. The Pacific Coast Forest Survey Unit assesses the relative density of each stand sampled by summing the individual density contributions of each tree tallied, thus quantifying the effects of mixed species, mixed age, and irregular spacing on total stand density. Each tree's contribution reflects its stage of development, species, and social position. Plot clusters are designed to permit assessment of the effect of irregular spacing.

Keywords: stand density measures, stocking density

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Citation

MacLean, Colin D.  1979.  Relative density: the key to stocking assessment in regional analysis—a forest survey viewpoint..   Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-078. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 1-5