Modeling Tree Growth Potential Based on Effective Evapotranspiration

Washington D.C.

1988

S. 864-881

3 Abb., 2 Tab., 31 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

16055

Annual tree growth potential is assessed by modeling effective evaptranspiration and taken as an index expressing interaction between atmospheric energy, potential evapotranspiration (PET), and soil moisture supply.The model has been calibrated for 11 forest stands of two evergreen species, Sctos pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Corsican pine (Pinus nigra), located in England. Four calibrated effective evapotranspiration values (EET) together with a simple climatic index (PET/R), which expresses the balance between potential evapotranspiration and rainfall, were subsequently multiplied by tree age to incorporate the physiological efficiency of trees. The derived potential growth indexes (PGIs) were comparatively examined with actual annual tree growth data for aperiod of 30 to 40 years. Regression analysis was carried out in evaluating th e model performance and the applicability of the model to predict environmentalpotential. All four predictions based on assessment of effective evapotranspir ation were positively correlated with annual tree growth, having coefficients of determination above 0.40, and often reaching 0.70, with significance at the 0.001 level of probability.