Comparison of methods to determine disk and heartwood areas

Michael C. Wiemann; John P. Brown; Neal D. Bennett

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-720

Treesearch

Comparison of methods to determine disk and heartwood areas

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Michael C. Wiemann, John P. Brown, Neal D. Bennett

Year:

2002

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-720

Source:

Research Papers, Rep. NE-720. Newtown Square, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 15 p.

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Download (PDF 1.12 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/3779.pdf

Abstract

The feasibility of using radius measurements on disks to determine cross-sectional areas of tree stems and the heartwood they contain was examined in sugar maple and red oak butt logs. Areas calculated from quadratic means of four stem radii and four heartwood radii were compared with areas measured with a planimeter. The lineal measurement method was less precise for disks taken from stumps than it was for disks taken from the tops of butt logs, probably because of bole irregularities. The radii measurements were more variable for heartwood than for complete disks in sugar maple but not in red oak. Areas computed from radii were the same as areas measured with a planimeter for only maple stump disks and red oak stump disks and heartwood.

Keywords

planimeter, red oak, sugar maple

Citation

Wiemann, Michael C.; Brown, John P.; Bennett, Neal D. 2002. Comparison of methods to determine disk and heartwood areas. Research Papers, Rep. NE-720. Newtown Square, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 15 p.