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Journal article
The relationship of site index to synoptic estimates of soil moisture and nutrients for western redcedar (Thuja plicata) in southern coastal British Columbia
Northwest science., Vol.71(3), pp.167-173
1997
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/1237
Abstract
We described the pattern of mean site index and the associated variation in site index of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn. ex D. Don.) in relation to categorical variables of soil moisture and nutrients as identified by the field-procedures of the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification. Additionally, we compared the site index of western redcedar to that of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). We sampled 105 plots from stands having western redcedar as the major tree species. The plots were distributed within each of two climates, a drier and a wetter cool mesothermal climate in south coastal British Columbia. Sixty-three plots had both western redcedar and western hemlock available for comparisons. Heights and ages were measured on five dominant trees on a 0.04 ha plot, and the height at a base age of 50 years was calculated to give site index. The highest western redcedar site index occurred on sites identified as having no moisture deficit or excess and high nitrogen availability. Site index decreased on sites identified by field procedures as being outside this optimum moisture and nutrient condition. The mean site index was significantly greater in the drier cool mesothermal climate than the wetter cool mesothermal climate on sites identified as having similar soil moisture and nutrient conditions. Climate appears to have a large effect on site index, therefore, on similar soil conditions the site index of western redcedar may be higher in the southern portion of its range in the United States; and lower in north coastal B.C. and southeastern Alaska. On sites where both western redcedar and western hemlock were sampled, the site index of western redcedar was consistently lower. Based on a northward trend. we may predict that in southeastern Alaska the site index values may be larger for western redcedar compared to western hemlock, while in Washington and Oregon there may be an even greater site index of western hemlock over western redcedar than reported here
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Details
- Title
- The relationship of site index to synoptic estimates of soil moisture and nutrients for western redcedar (Thuja plicata) in southern coastal British Columbia
- Creators
- Gordon J. Kayahara (Author)Karel Klinka (Author)Alistair C. Schroff (Author)
- Publication Details
- Northwest science., Vol.71(3), pp.167-173
- Academic Unit
- Northwest Science
- Publisher
- WSU Press
- Identifiers
- 99900501893501842
- Copyright
- In copyright ; openAccess ; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ ; http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article