Notes: Calculated Nondestructive Indices of Growth Response for Young Pine Seedlings

Abstract

The relationship between aboveground weight (W) and root-collar diameter squared times total height (D²H) was modeled using data on 2- and 3-year-old pine seedlings growing in mycorrhizal plots at several locations in the southeastern United States. The linear and log-log models fit the individual data sets very well, as shown by correlation coefficients ranging from 0.87 to 0.98 for the linear model and from 0.90 to 0.98 for the log-log model. Included is a discussion of the criteria needed to establish D²H, or a function of D²H, as a suitable surrogate measure of biomass. The evidence presented shows that D²H and log (D²H) are interval scaled measures of W and log (W), respectively, thus validating these nondestructive indices for use in comparing treatment effects on mycorrhizal research plots. Forest Sci. 30:469-474.