Measuring and Evaluating Stocking and Stand Density in Upland Hardwood Forests in the Central States

Abstract Stocking and density standards are presented for upland hardwood stands (chiefly oak-hickory and mixed species) in the central states. Utilizing the open grown and forest grown tree-area requirements, limits of stocking and density for full site utilization are established. The standards presented are not influenced by site quality, stand age, or stand structure. The wide distribution of diameters in even-aged upland hardwood stands is due in part to differential species growth. Coefficients of variation, skewness, and kurtosis are given for a range of stand conditions. Under most stand conditions of even-aged upland hardwoods, stand structure can be ignored in the appraisal of stocking. Evidence is also presented to show that stand structure has very little effect on volume growth.