Foliage weight distribution in the upper crown of balsam fir

Steven Kleinschmidt; Gordon L. Bakersville; Dale S. Solomon

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-455

Treesearch

Foliage weight distribution in the upper crown of balsam fir

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Steven Kleinschmidt, Gordon L. Bakersville, Dale S. Solomon

Year:

1980

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-455

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-455. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8p.

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Abstract

A model was developed to predict the weight of foliage at each age on a branch for a given whorl from undefoliated balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). The normal weight of foliage by age classes can be compared to the weight of foliage remaining on a branch to estimate recent, annual defoliation by spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)). One branch from each whorl was sampled in the top half of each of 22 balsam fir trees in New Hampshire and New Brunswick. The foliage was separated by age, ovendried, and weighed. A system of equations was developed to predict the total foliage weight of a branch from variables that would be minimally affected by defoliation. A ratio was developed to estimate the proportion of foliage by each age class on a branch using whorl number, needle age, and flowering effect. The estimates of total foliage weight on a branch and the proportion of each age of foliage were combined to estimate the weight of foliage for each age on a given branch.

Citation

Kleinschmidt, Steven; Bakersville, Gordon L.; Solomon, Dale S. 1980. Foliage weight distribution in the upper crown of balsam fir. Res. Pap. NE-455. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8p.