Use of leader lengths and diameters to estimate production and utilization of Cercocarpus breviflorus

Abstract

Weight relations for twig lengths and diameters were determined for hairy mountain mahogany plants in southern New Mexico. Both twig lengths and twig diameters were related linearly to twig weights. Twig length and twig diameters explained more than 80% of the variation in twig weight. The equation ŷ(g) = -0.68 + 0.3 (length) + 6.33 (diameter) resulted in the highest r2 (0.88) value compared to either length or diameter alone. Thus, twig length and diameter measurements could be used to determined production and utilization of hairy mountain mahogany. These relationships probably, however, vary with environmental context.