Using crown ratio in yellow-poplar compatible taper and volume equations

Linear and nonlinear crown ratio (CR) functions were incorporated into a segmented taper and cubic foot volume function developed for yellow-poplar in West Virginia. The inclusion of a CR variable provided significantly different parameter estimates but only modest improvement in the prediction of upper stem size and volume. Sample trees from the west central region of West Virginia exhibited a larger improvement. The main differences were concentrated in the stem section above 60% of total height.