Baldwin, V. C., Jr. and K. D. Peterson. 1997. Predicting Crown Shape
of Loblolly Pine Trees. Canadian Journal of Forest Research
27, pp. 102-107.
Module 1 of the Integrated Modeling Project (IMP) contains
a suite
of linked models to predict growth from the individual tree to forest
stand level. The canopy process model MAESTRO is a key
component of
that system. MAESTRO requires detailed three-dimensional
descriptions
of individual tree crowns in order to solve for the intersections of
beams of both diffuse and direct radiation within each tree crown in a
stand. This paper presents equations to predict crown shape, the
associated measures of maximum crown radius and its height, and crown
volume for individual loblolly pine trees based on easily measured tree
characteristics. The equation for the outer shape is flexible enough to
allow for both the typical conical juvenile crown shape and the more
elliptical mature crown shape of loblolly pines.