A HEIGHT GROWTH-MODEL FOR ESTIMATING SITE CLASS OF NORWAY SPRUCE IN GREECE

Norway spruce is growing in Northern Greece (Rodopi Ranges) where, along with the other forest species, it occupies an area of 6,500-7,000 ha. Mean annual growth of stands ranges from 5.5 to 13.5 m3/year/ha. For the study of the growth patterns, and for more effective planning of spruce stand management as well, a system for classifying stands by site quality or yield classes is needed. This paper discusses the construction of such a system. Data were taken from 98 sample trees representing the range of spruce in the forest subregion of Elatia in Northern Greece. Based on data of height development of sample trees and the parameter prediction method of fitting site index (see CLUTTER et al. 1983), a local system of site index curves was constructed based on age at breast height and total height of dominant trees of spruce (see fig. 1).