Abstract
Species-specific equations to predict uncompacted crown ratio (UNCR) from compacted live crown ratio (CCR), tree length, and stem diameter were developed for 24 species and 12 genera in the southern United States. Using data from the US Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program, nonlinear regression was used to model UNCR with a logistic function. Model performance was evaluated with standard fit statistics (root mean squared error, mean absolute error, mean error, and model efficiency) and by comparing the results of using the observed and predicted UNCR values in secondary applications. Root mean squared error for the regression models ranged from 0.062 to 0.176 UNCR and averaged 0.114 UNCR across all models. Height to live crown base calculations and crown width estimations based on the observed and predicted UNCR values were in dose agreement. Overall, the models performed well for the
Pinus and
Taxodium genera and several individual hardwood species; however, model performance was generally poar for the
Acer, Quercus, and
Carya genera.
Keywords
Forest Inventory and Analysis,
crown base height,
crown modeling,
nonlinear regression,
forest inventory
Citation
Randolph, KaDonna C. 2010. Equations relating compacted and uncompacted live crown ratio for common tree species in the South. South. J. Appl. For. 34(3):118-123.