Modeling dynamics of competing vegetation in young conifer plantations of northern California and southern Oregon, USA1

This paper describes the development of growth equations for competing vegetation in young conifer plantations, consistent with an individual-tree growth model architecture. Response variables were height increment, basal diameter increment, and change in crown width for a 2-year growth interval. The results for three common competing shrub and three competing hardwood species are presented. Fit statistics for hardwoods were generally much better than those obtained for shrub species. Crown width growth equations generally had very poor fit statistics. Static crown equations also relate crown area to plant height. The equations were developed for use in an individual-tree plant growth model for young plantations. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]