Crown-rise and crown-length dynamics: application to loblolly pine

The original crown-rise model estimates the average height of a crown-base in an even-aged mono-species stand of trees. We have elaborated this model to reduce bias and prediction error, and to also provide crown-base estimates for individual trees. Results for the latter agree with a theory of branch death based on resource availability and allocation. We use the improved model to estimate the growth and stem-profile development of a mean-tree in an even-aged stand of loblolly pine. Predictions show good agreement with data from a loblolly pine spacing trial.