Relationships between height, diameter, and crown for eastern cottonwood (populus deltoides) in a great plains riparian ecosystem

Abstract

Models were developed for tree height and crown characteristics of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex. Marsh). Equations related cottonwood height to dbh and crown condition category (less than 50% live, at least 50% but less than 100% live, and 100% live). Crown width equations related crown width to dbh, crown condition category, and basal area per hectare. Additional equations related crown length to total height, basal area per hectare, and crown condition category. Data were obtained during a sample of trees located in a riparian area surrounding the Cimarron River on the Cimarron National Grassland. The band of trees on either side of the Cimarron River channel was surrounded by treeless, semiarid grassland typical of southwestern Kansas. Many trees were growing in scattered clumps or nearly open grown. In addition, there was variability in proportions of live crown present, as classified by crown condition category. These factors influence crown dimensions and are typical of cottonwood trees found in Great Plains riparian areas. Since height measurement trees were sampled on plots, mixed-effects models with random effects representing plot effects were developed for the height-diameter relationships (a model developed using ordinary least squares is also presented). Models of crown width and crown length were developed using ordinary least squares.