The reliability of determining age of red alder by ring counts

Dean S. DeBell; Boyd C. Wilson; Bernard Bormann

Treesearch

The reliability of determining age of red alder by ring counts

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Dean S. DeBell, Boyd C. Wilson, Bernard Bormann

Year:

1978

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Res. Note PNW-RN-318. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 7 p

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Download (PDF 492 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/40617.pdf

Abstract

Examination of cross-sections of 54 red alder trees from 14 stands of varying age and site conditions indicated that abnormal rings (false, partial, or missing) occur infrequently. Rings may be indistinct and ring counting must be done with great care, preferably on prepared surfaces (cross-sections or cores) and under magnification and good lighting. With such preparations, ages of red alder trees can be determined with acceptable accuracy by conventional ring-counting procedures.

Keywords

Ring counts, age determination, tree stand, red alder, Aznus rubra

Citation

DeBell, Dean S.; Wilson, Boyd C.; Bormann, Bernard T. 1978. The reliability of determining age of red alder by ring counts. Res. Note PNW-RN-318. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 7 p