Weight and density of crowns of Rocky Mountain conifers /

Abstract

Relationships between live and dead crown weight and d.b.h.(ranging from to 40 inches), crown length, tree height, and crown ratio are presented for 11 conifer species in the Rocky Mountains.D.b.h. was highly correlated with crown weight; however, for most species, addition of height, crown length, and especially crown ratio improved precision.Site index and stand density improved precision of estimates slightly for about one-half of the species.Crown ratio accounted for most of the differences in crown weight between dominant and intermediate crown classes.Relationships between bole weights and d.b.h. and height are presented for trees up to 4 inches d.b.h.For partitioning estimates of crown weight into foliage, and branchwood diameter classes (0-to 0. 24-inch, 0. 25-to 0. 99-inch, 1. 00-to 2. 99-inch and 3.00-inch and larger), accumulative fractions of foliage and branchwood and their relationship to d.b.h. are presented.Relationships between weights of foliage and branchwood by diameter classes, highly correlated with branch basal diameter, are included.Bulk densities for foliage and branchwood of live crowns ranged from 0.04 to 0. 14 lb/ft and were approximately twice that for foliage alone.Bulk densities and crown moisture contents were greater in the upper crowns..