[CANUFNET] Tree Growth Factors Question

[Andrew Almas via CANUFNET]

Hi Darren,

There is no extra mathematical step to applying the growth factor. It is
just that trees grow differently in different settings. So in the case of
the growth factor provide by the Morton Arboretum they are only considering
trees that are "landscape specimens", these tend to grow in diameter far
more quickly than trees in a forest setting that tend to grow taller. Most
growth factors you will find are associated with that species growing in a
forest setting. That is the source of the discrepancy. Another source of
discrepancy could be locale - a red maple in Quebec will grow more slowly
than a red maple in Georgia...

Best,
         Andrew

On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 12:00 PM Darren Platakis via CANUFNET <
canufnet at list.web.net> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I was hoping to be enlightened with regards to tree growth factors and
> estimated tree age. I am not a arborist by trade so be gentle with me.
>
> I'm trying to apply growth factors to an inventory of trees to estimate
> age but some things do not make sense.
>
> By way of example, the growth factor for a Norway maple is noted as being
> 4.5 so in essence, a Norway maple with a diameter of 20 inches is estimated
> to be 90 yrs old - Diameter X Growth Factor (this number doesn't seem right
> to me).
>
> However, there are several charts available that provide this information,
> such as one released by The Morton Arboretum that state a Norway maple of
> 20 inches in diameter is estimated to be 52 years old. This would be a
> growth factor of 2.6 (Estimated age / diameter = Growth Factor). My
> question is, why the big discrepancy? Am I missing a step somewhere?
>
> This is an exercise that I may like to take into a classroom but with the
> wide chasm of results I'd be wary of doing so.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Darren Platakis
> BSC., GIS(PG), FRCGS
>


-- 
*Andrew Almas*
Lecturer
University of Toronto, Mississauga
Department of Geography and Programs in the Environment
(647) 529-8867
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