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Chapter 9: Crown Condition

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Tree crown conditions are visually assessed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program as an indicator of forest health. These assessments are useful because an individual tree’s photosynthetic capacity is dependent upon the size and condition of its crown. In general, trees with full, vigorous crowns are associated with more vigorous growth rates (Zarnoch and others 2004), and when trees undergo stress, the first symptoms are often visible in the crown. Furthermore, tree crowns form the overstory structure of the forest and directly influence the composition and structure of the understory, thereby making them an integral component of the forest ecosystem.

Parent Publication

Citation

Randolph, KaDonna;. 2013. Chapter 9: Crown Condition. General Technical Report SRS 207. USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 17 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/58662