Biomass, Litter and Leaf Surface Area Estimates of an Oak-Hickory Forest

Abstract

The biomass (15.7 kg/M2) net primary production (600 gm/m2/yr) of aboveground parts and leaf surface area (approximately 4 m2/m2) were estimated for an oak-hickory forest. Weights for plants 2.54 cm dbh were estimated by establishing their relationship to dbh. This was accomplished by harvesting the aboveground portions of twenty-three broad-leaved deciduous trees (14 species) and separating each into leaves, current year's stems, and large branches and bole. Leaf surface area for each tree was based on the surface area and weight relation of fifty randomly selected leaves.