Comparison of site index and biomass production on four soil drainage classes from the Chesuncook Catena for spruce-fir stands in northwestern Maine

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6773472

Williams, R A

Biomass production was compared to site index ratings for fully stocked natural 10 to 80 year-old balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.)-spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss, P. rubens Sarg., P. marianna (Mill) B.S.P.) stands that occurred on four soils of the Chesuncook Catena: Elliottsville (well drained), Chesuncook (moderately well), Telos (somewhat poorly), and Monarda (poorly). Regression equations were developed to predict the total dry weight and component weights of individual trees, and were applied to standing trees to predict total stand biomass. Total biomass production was not significantly different among all soil groups until about age 60 years, after which the biomass production on the better drained Chesuncook and Elliottsville soils surpasses that of the poorer drained Telos and Monarda soils. Biomass production was not significantly different between stands on these latter two soils over the measured lifetimes of the stands. Within each soil grouping, biomass production remained constant over the range of site index for the Telos-Monarda soil grouping. However, biomass production decreased the increasing site index for the Chesuncook-Elliottsville soil grouping. No consistent relationship was found between site index and total biomass. Total biomass of merchantable trees increased with improved soil drainage.

• Research Organization: Maine Univ., Orono (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6773472
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
BIOMASS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DRAINAGE
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUATIONS
FEDERAL REGION I
FIRS
GROWTH
MAINE
MATHEMATICS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOILS
SPRUCES
STATISTICS
TREES
USA