Site-index curves for young-growth ponderosa pine in northern Arizona

Abstract

The productive capacity or site quality of an area enters into nearly every phase of forest management from regeneration to final harvest. No standards or measures of site quality have been developed specifically for ponderosa pine in the Southwest, which handicaps the forest manager. The major objective of the present study was to develop the basic site-index curves for young-growth ponderosa pine by means of which a relative growth capacity may be assigned to each forest condition in the forests of Arizona. Secondary objectives were to test the applicability of suggested mensurational procedures for site curve construction (individual tree stem analyses, polymorphic curves, use of dominant trees only, age at breast height rather than total age),. and effect of stand density upon height.

Citation

Minor, Charles O. 1964. Site-index curves for young-growth ponderosa pine in northern Arizona. Res. Note RM-37. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 8 p.