Equations for total, wood, and saw-log volume for thirteen California hardwoods.

Abstract

Volume equations for thirteen species of California hardwoods were developed from measurements of 766 sample trees from all parts of the state. The species included: bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh), giant chinkapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla (Dougl.) A. DC.), tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehd.), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Nee), canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis Liebm.), blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn.), Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii Greene), Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.), California white oak or valley Oak (Quercus lobata Nee), interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni A. DC.), and California-laurel (Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt.). Measurements were taken of standing trees using a Spiegel Relaskop. English and metric equations for three utilization standards were developed for each species: (1) total tree volume (all stem and branch wood plus stump and bark); (2) wood volume (all wood inside bark from stump to 10 cm (4 in) top outside bark); and (3) saw-log volume for trees 28 cm (11 in) diameter at breast height and larger (straight sections from stump to 23 cm (9 in) top outside bark). Diameter and height were found to be good predictors of total volume and wood volume. An indicator variable representing whether or not the first segment was merchantable, in addition to diameter and height, was found to be a good predictor of saw-log volume for eight of the species.

Citation

Pillsbury, Norman H.; Kirkley, Michael L. 1984. Equations for total, wood, and saw-log volume for thirteen California hardwoods. Res. Note PNW-RN-414. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 52 p