Simple taper: Taper equations for the field forester

Abstract

"Simple taper" is set of linear equations that are based on stem taper rates; the intent is to provide taper equation functionality to field foresters. The equation parameters are two taper rates based on differences in diameter outside bark at two points on a tree. The simple taper equations are statistically equivalent to more complex equations. The linear equations in simple taper were developed with data from 11,610 stem analysis trees of 34 species from across the southern United States. A Visual Basic program (Microsoft®) is also provided in the appendix. A correction to Table 2, on page 270, was made on May 18, 2017.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 20th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Larsen, David R. 2017. Simple taper: Taper equations for the field forester. In: Kabrick, John M.; Dey, Daniel C.; Knapp, Benjamin O.; Larsen, David R.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Stelzer, Henry E., eds. Proceedings of the 20th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2016 March 28-April 1; Columbia, MO. General Technical Report NRS-P-167. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 265-278.