A two-stage matrix model for predicting growth of forest stands in the Northeast

Abstract

Matrices are used to model ingrowth, survivor growth, and mortality for stands in different forest types in the Northeast. Equations are developed for several species from softwood and northern hardwood stand data estimating the probability of trees remaining in a diameter class, increasing one or two diameter classes, or dying. By knowing species composition and diameter distribution, FIBER predicts stand yields for managed and unmanaged stands with densities ranging from 9.2 to 41.3 m 2 /ha using 5-year iterations. Actual and predicted volume estimates from independent data sets are compared for different species compositions, densities, thinning operations, and harvest intervals in the softwood, northern hardwood, and mixed-wood forest types.