individual stand growth model for mean plant size based on the rule of self-thinning

• Published in: Annals of botany 1986-05, Vol.57 (5), p.681-688
• Main Authors: Lloyd, F.T, Harms, W.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3/2-power rule; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Forest stands; Forest trees; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Generalities. Production, biomass, yield. Quality; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; growth models; Least squares; loblolly pine; Mortality; Parametric models; Pine trees; Pinus taeda; plant competition; Plant growth; plant growth model; Plants; Productivity; Reliability functions; size; stand density; stand dynamics; survival; thinning
• ISSN: 0305-7364; 1095-8290
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a087151

A growth model for pure, even-aged stands of plants is asymptotically bounded above by the self-thinning rule that relates maximum plant size to stand density. The model characterizes accretion in mean size as a deviation from the limiting size. It consists of a function relating mean size to time and density and a companion survival model. The growth model is obtained by substituting the survival model for density in the mean size relationship. Model flexibility is demonstrated by fitting it to annual remeasurements of mean size and number of plants per unit area in a stand of Pinus taeda L.