Siberian Spruce stand structures peculiarities in urban plantations

Tree biometrics was measured: stem diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, as well as crown diameter and length on 15 plots of Siberian spruce urban plantations were in Yekaterinburg-city. The diameter (DBH) distribution of trees was determined based on the statistics and their errors. Variation in stem and crown parameters of the trees and height to diameter ratio was found to be lower in urban plantations than in natural forest stands. DBH variation coefficient is decreased with tree spacing increase. There is a strong relationship between maximum H:D ratio values and tree spacing. It is established that the most favourable conditions in Siberian spruce urban plantations are created if tree spacing is more than 3 m. The relationships between tree parameters in urban plantations where inter-tree competition is lower than in natural forest stands were determined to be linear ones. The accuracy of equations to evaluate tree parameters increases if a second determining factor is included: if tree spacing is included in the tree height and the crown diameter equations, and if tree height is included in the crown volume equation. The study results show that urban plantations can be considered as a unique subject of forest taxation. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd