Stand Density Measures: An Interpretation

Many stand density measures can be regarded as expressions of average area available to trees of a stand, relative to that occupied by trees growing under a standard density condition and comparable in dbh or otherwise. Relationships among a number of common relative stand density measures are discussed. Either the open-grown condition or the normal stand can be used as the standard and lead to similar results. Differences are introduced by use of stand diameter, height, volume, or site and age as alternative bases for referring observed stands to the standard condition. A ratio of observed basal area to that of a normal stand of the same age and site, frequently used as an expression of relative density, is not directly interpretable as a comparison of areas. Otherwise, most common measures appear to be practically equivalent. Forest Sci. 16:403-414.