Soil-Site Classification for Bottomland Hardwoods

Abstract

Foresters have always needed a means of predicting tree growth. Of the many indexes of potential growth, site index is the most widely used. Site index may be defined as the height of dominant trees in a stand at a reference age (usually 50 years). Site index is, in theory, a true reflection of growth potential of the site because height growth is generally unaffected by stand density, except at extremes. If no suitable trees of the desired species are present, our estimates must be based on other indicators of potential growth. The environmental factors, the sum of which are known as site, are an interesting and powerful means of estimating site index.

Citation

Francis, John K. 1984. Soil-Site Classification for Bottomland Hardwoods. In: Proceedings, Twelfth Annual Hardwood Symposium, Hardwood Research Council. Stoneville, MS: USDA-Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 86-91.