Predicting average growth and size distributions of Douglas-fir saplings competing with sprout clumps of tanoak or Pacific madrone

Abstract

The average growth and size distributions of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) saplings in three plantations were studied for 7 years (1983–1989) after thinning of associated sprout clumps of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) or Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii); in some cases understory vegetation (shrubs and herbs) was experimentally suppressed. Biologically based nonlinear equations explained 66, 90, and 53% of the variation in the average annual increment of Douglas-fir height, diameter-squared, and cover, respectively. Equations for annual increment of cover of hardwood and understory vegetation explained only 10 to 12% of the variation, because these parameters exhibited a high degree of variability. Model simulations demonstrated that, for the same initial levels of cover, tanoak had faster rates of cover growth than madrone and also caused greater limitations in growth of Douglas-fir. Suppression of understory vegetation increased growth of Douglas-fir only when hardwood cover was absent. Weibull functions adequately described size distributions for Douglas-fir in 92% of the individual-tree data sets. Regression functions of hardwood cover and average Douglas-fir size explained 51, 93, and 24% of the variation in the Weibull A, B, and C parameters, respectively. Model simulations with predicted Weibull parameters demonstrated that hardwood competition caused a positive skewing in size distributions for height and stem diameter of Douglas-fir.