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Juvenile diameter distributions of loblolly pine characterized by the two-parameter Weibull function

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Abstract

Diameter distributions of juvenile loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were characterized utilizing a two-parameter Weibull distribution to aid in forecasting and simulation of young stands. Juvenile diameter distributions were studied to gain insight into the effects of various stand-level factors. Results show that diameter distributions in juvenile loblolly pine stands can be successfully characterized with the two-parameter Weibull function. Repeated measures analysis detected significant planting density, age, and age by planting density interaction effects for the scale and shape parameter estimates from the two-parameter Weibull distribution. Using parameter recovery techniques, estimated diameter distributions were derived from easily attainable stand-level characteristics (i.e. basal area per hectare, planting density, age, and quadratic mean diameter). A thorough understanding of juvenile diameter distributions should prove especially useful for operational planning of stands on short rotations that require estimates of productivity at early ages.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University, Box 8008, 27695, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Bronson P. Bullock

  2. Department of Forestry (0324), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Harold E. Burkhart

Authors
  1. Bronson P. Bullock
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  2. Harold E. Burkhart
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Correspondence to Bronson P. Bullock.

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Bullock, B.P., Burkhart, H.E. Juvenile diameter distributions of loblolly pine characterized by the two-parameter Weibull function. New Forest 29, 233–244 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-5651-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-5651-5

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