Predicting Growth of Eastern White Pine 



by James P. Barrett \ and Leland J. Goldsmith 



Eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) accounts for about one-fifth 

 of the standing board-foot vohinie in New Hampshire. As with other 

 species, variations in white pine stand vohinie, height, and growth 

 are related to stand and site conditions. The purpose of this study is 

 to provide information so that a forester can predict: (1) site index, 

 (2) cubic-foot vohime, (3) board-foot volume, (4) cubic-foot growth, 

 (5) board-foot growth, and (6) mortality for even-aged extensively 

 managed white pine stands. 



Annual growth predictions and mortality were based on plot meas- 

 urements over a nine-year period. Stand height and stand volume pre- 

 dictions were based on the plot estalilishment data. Yield predictions 

 previously published by Barrett and Allen (1966) and Leak et al. (1970) 

 were also based on the plot establishment data. 



Field Methods 



Field data were obtained from 65 semi-permanent field plots. These 

 plots were located in essentially pure white pine stand, with at least 

 80 percent of the overstory basal area in white pine, and ranged from 

 %()- to /^,-acre in size. Twelve plots were as small as %o acre; these 

 plots were located in young and very dense stands. The condition of 

 both the stand and site within and surrounding each plot was judged 

 to be uniform over an area of about 1/2-acre. Within this l/2-acre, the 

 stand was even-aged, with the overstory white pine varying no more 

 than 10 years in age. There had not been any major disturbance to 

 the stands over the past 15 years and only light disturbance within the 

 past six years. 



An attempt was made to select plots that gave as wide a range as 

 possible in age, site index, and basal area. The distribution of these 

 65 plots by breast-height age and initial basal area per acre of over- 

 story pine trees (3.0 inches d.b.h. and larger) is shown in Table 1. 

 Distribution of plots by 10-foot site-index classes is shown in Table 2. 



t Associate Professor and graduate student respectively. 



