CORRELATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN INTERFERENCE INDEX AND TREE GROWTH FACTORS OF POPULUS SIMONII

摘要

This study was aimed to explore the correlations between wood competition and tree growth factors in Populus simonii artificial forests. Grey relational analysis was used to analyze the correlations of wood interference index with diameter at breast height (DBH), canopy size, height-diameter ratio, and habitat utilization rate. It was found tree interference index was negatively correlated with DBH, canopy size and habitat utilization rate, but was positively correlated with height-diameter ratio. The main inhibitory factor on forest growth was stand density. Grey relational analysis showed the correlation degrees of tree growth factors with interference index ranked as follows: height-diameter ratio > DBH > canopy size > habitat utilization rate. This study is a basis for stand structure optimization of artificial forests and eco-construction in middle east Inner Mongolia, China.