Effect of aspect, tree age and tree diameter on bark thickness of Picea orientalis

The volume of bark is a function of bark thickness and tree diameter, thus bark and tree volume calculations depend on accurate determination of bark thickness. Bark thickness is affected by a number of inherent and external factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting bark thickness and to derive models predicting bark thickness for Picea orientalis ( L.) Link. This study indicated that bark thickness at breast height was strongly correlated with geographical aspect, tree age and diameter classes, and bark thickness increased as tree age or diameter class increased in sunny or shady aspect. Diameter over bark at breast height explained 50% of the variations in double bark thickness at breast height on shady aspects and 68% of the variations in double bark thickness of P. orientalis at breast height on sunny aspects. By adding tree age to the functions, the coefficient of determination increased by 1 - 2%. Thus, not only tree ages and diameters, but also the aspect in which trees grow should be taken into account to calculate the amounts of wood and bark in P. orientalis