ANALYTICAL ESTIMATION OF BRANCHWOOD VOLUME IN SUGAR MAPLE, LINKED TO BRANCHINESS

An analytical link is proposed between branchwood volume and branchine ss. A segmented linear model with one parameter is used to describe th e branch basal area density along the tree bole and integrated to find a function describing the cumulative branch basal area. It appears th at the bases of insertion of the branches defining the base of the lig ht crown correspond to the maximum branch basal area density along the bole. This function is then used together with an individual branch v olume equation to find a model that estimates branchwood volume. This model is calibrated with data gathered in 15 stands dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in southern Quebec. A comparison is mad e with other models of branchwood volume found in the literature.