Predictive equations for leaf area and biomass for sugar bushes in easternOntario

In January 1998, an extensive ice storm caused severe damage to sugar bushe s in Eastern Ontario. Foliage biomass and foliage area estimates were requi red to assess effects of the ice storm and remedial treatments on variables related to sugar maple production. Equations were developed to predict lea f biomass of undamaged individual sugar maple trees in the ice-damaged area . The data were collected in early to mid-August 2000 in eastern Ontario. B asal diameter of all third-order branches of 22 trees from two stands was m easured, along with tree DBH, total height, and height to the base of live crown. In addition, foliage was collected from two branches (one from the l ower and one from the upper part of each tree's crown). Samples were used t o develop equations predicting leaf biomass (oven-dried weight) of individu al branches from their basal diameter. These equations were applied to esti mate total leaf biomass of individual trees, and the resulting estimates we re used to develop equations predicting leaf biomass from DBH and the numbe r of branches per tree. The resulting equations accounted for over 90% of t he variation in leaf biomass of individual trees. Leaf biomass-DBH equation s for the two stands were significantly different (P < 0.0001), while no si gnificant difference was detected in the leaf biomass-number of branches eq uations (P = 0.1573) for the two stands.