Relative effects of dendrometers on the estimation of diameter at breast height, stand basal area and stand volume in uneven-aged northern hardwoods

Abstract

Four methods of estimating diameter at breast height (DBH) were used on 558 northern hardwood stems, located in 6, 0.25-ha plots, to compare their effects. The first method was a diameter tape reading and the second was a systematic reading, along a predefined axis, taken with a calliper. The last 2 methods were both obtained from the arithmetic mean of 2 different pairs of calliper readings taken at right angles. The first pair was directed along the major bole axis and the other pair along the minor axis. The 4 methods were compared in terms of mean tree diameter, plot basal area and plot volume. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in parameter estimates among methods, and the differences varied according to species (Acer saccharum Marsh. and Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) and tree size class. Differences among methods were more evident for larger DBH classes, which contribute most to the significant differences observed for both the plot and stand basal area and volume. Overall, tree DBH, plot basal area and plot volume provided by these 4 methods ranked in this ascending order: mean calliper reading directed along the minor axis, systematic calliper reading, mean calliper reading directed along the major axis, and diameter tape. The difference in stand basal area or volume between the estimates obtained with a systematic calliper reading and a diameter tape was 1.1 m2/ha with a mean basal area of about 21 m2/ha, or 10.5 m3/ha with a mean stand volume of 169 m3/ha. Because of the magnitude of these differences, it is recommended the method of DBH estimation be specified in studies, to be careful when crossing databases or models using different methods of DBH estimation, and to always maintain the same method of DBH estimation when remeasuring a plot. Key words: northern hardwoods, dendrometer, diameter tape, calliper, caliper, DBH measurement, basal area, volume