Practical Field Methods of Estimating Canopy Cover, PAR, and LAI in Michigan Oak and Pine Stands

With the increased use of variables such as canopy cover, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and overstory leaf area index (LAI) in forestry research, relationships between these variables and traditional forestry variables must be defined before recommended levels of these research variables can be achieved by forestry practitioners on the ground. We measured basal area, canopy cover, Ozalid percent full light, PAR, and overstory LAI in thinned and unthinned plots within oak and pine stands with the objectives of: (1) determining the relationships between these variables in two common forest types, (2) investigating the feasibility of using basal area to estimate and achieve recommended levels of canopy cover, PAR, and LAI in the field, and (3) examining the possibility of using direct canopy cover and Ozalid light measurements for estimating PAR and LAI. Very strong relationships (r² > 0.90 and P < 0.0001) were indicated between basal area and canopy cover, PAR, and LAI...