Growth Analysis of Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) by Stem Analysis in the Eastern Region of Korea

Abstract The study was performed to analyze the growth of the red pine (Pinus densiflora) in the Eastern Region of Korea. Stem profile data from a total of 8 dominant trees of which each tree represents its site were collected and used for the analysis. The stem volumes were calculated using Smalian’s formula and much higher than the ones by Korea Forest Research Institute in larger than dbh 40 cm. The total bark volumes were more proportionally related to dbh and stem volume than to height and age. The bark thickness and volume decreased as relative height increases but increased as relative dbh increased. The average PAI of dbh and height reached the highest at 0.8 cm/yr (age 15) and at 0.45 m/yr (age 30) respectively, while the average PAI of volume steadily tended to increase up to age 80. The growth percentages of dbh, height and volume tended to decrease with age and volume growth percentage was higher than dbh and height.Key Words: bark thickness, diameter growth, height growth, volume growth, periodic annual increment (PAI)