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Primary Productivity of Red Alder Ecosystems
Author(s) -
Zavitkovski J.,
Stevens R. D.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934076
Subject(s) - alder , crown (dentistry) , productivity , biomass (ecology) , primary production , ecosystem , biology , ecology , botany , dry weight , primary productivity , zoology , forestry , geography , medicine , dentistry , economics , macroeconomics
Fifty red alder communities from 1 to 65 years old were studied in western Oregon. Highly significant correlations were found between an index of volume and dry weights of whole trees, individual stems, crowns, tops, and roots. Correlations of dry weight with other independent variables (age, dbh, height) were variable and strongly curvilinear. Ratios of crown to stem in dominant trees were higher than those of suppressed or intermediate trees. Biomass of aboveground parts increased rapidly during the first 20 years and of maximum growth (between 10 and 15 years) averaged 26 mt/ha per year. Net assimilation rates ranged from 2.58 to 4.33 mt/mt per year. To produced best yields, red alder stands should be harvested for 20 years of age.