Abstract
The growth of stand stem volume and diameter at breast height (DBH) of individual trees in seven old man-made sugi (Cryptormeria japonica) stands (from 101 to 229 years old) in Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture, were measured over a period of 2 to 3 years. When first measured, mean stand DBH and heights ranged from 46 to 106 cm and 29 to 50 m, respectively, and stand stem volumes ranged from 890 to 1, 690 m3 ha1. In every stand, the periodic annual DBH increment of individual trees tended to increase with DBH. The periodic mean DBH increment ranged from 0.21 to 0.37 cm yr-1 in the seven stands. At the sites suitable for sugi growth, it was confirmed that the trees, which were around 200 years old, could grow in DBH by 0.20.4 cm yr-1. The periodic annual increments of stand stem volume were larger than 10 m3 ha-1 yr-1 in every stand. Four stands in particular had larger increments : 16-19 m3 ha-1 yr-1. In old sugi stands, stand stem volume and mean DBH estimated using the stand density control diagram were smaller than the measured values. It was suggested that the estimated stand stem volume can be calibrated using the measured DBH in the stand density control diagram.
