Is height of dominant trees at a reference diameter an adequate measure ofsite quality?

Based on ecological and stem analysis data obtained from white spruce-domin ated stands in the Sub-boreal Spruce of British Columbia, the validity of u sing height of dominant trees at a specific breast height diameter (20 cm) as an index of site quality was tested. The results indicated that (1) heig ht of dominant trees at 20-cm breast height diameter was related neither to site index (height of dominant trees at 50-year breast height age) nor to ecological measure of site quality (i.e. soil moisture nutrient regimes); ( 2) taper (diameter: height ratio) did not decrease with increasing site qua lity; and (3) stand density might have influence height-diameter relationsh ips of dominant trees. Therefore, we conclude that height of dominant trees at a specific diameter is not an adequate measure of site quality. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.