• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2013

Annual ring formation is considered a source of information to investigate the effects of environmental changes caused by temperature, air pollution, and acid rain on tree growth. A comparative investigation of annual ring growth of Cryptomeria japonica in relation to environmental changes was conducted at two sites in southern Korea (Haenam and Jangseong). Three wood disks from each site were collected from stems at breast height and annual ring growth was analyzed. Annual ring area at two sites increased over time (p > 0.05). Tree ring growth rate in Jangseong was higher than that in Haenam. Annual ring area increment in Jangseong was more strongly correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam; annual ring growth increased with increasing temperature (p < 0.01) and a positive effect of $NO_2$ concentration on annual ring area (p < 0.05) could be attributed to nitrogen deposition in Jangseong. The correlation of annual ring growth increased with decreasing $SO_2$ and $CO_2$ concentrations (p < 0.01) in Jangseong. Variation in annual growth rings in Jangseong could be associated with temperature changes and N deposition. In Haenam, annual ring growth was correlated with $SO_2$ concentration (p < 0.01), and there was a negative relationship between precipitation pH and annual ring area (p < 0.01) which may reflect changes in nutrient cycles due to the acid rain. Therefore, the combined effects of increased $CO_2$, N deposition, and temperature on tree ring growth in Jangseong may be linked to soil acidification in this forest ecosystem. The interactions between air pollution ($SO_2$) and precipitation pH in Haenam may affect tree growth and may change nutrient cycles in this site. These results suggested that annual tree ring growth in Jangseong was more correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam. However, the further growth of C. japonica forest at two sites is at risk from the long-term effects of acid deposition from fossil fuel combustion.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2008

In this study we investigated the effects of the microclimatic conditions on tree growth in different site types for natural deciduous forests in Korea. First, we classified all the sites into 36 types according to their aspect (east, west, south, and north), elevation (higher than 1,000 m, 700$\sim$1,000 m, and lower than 700 m), and topographical conditions (ridge, slope, and valley). For each site type, we measured diameter growth with increment borer, and then estimated periodic annual increment of diameter, height and volume. We applied a topoclimatological technique for estimating microclimatic conditions, and produced monthly climatic estimates from which 17 weather variables (including indices of warmth, coldness, and aridity) were computed for each site type. The periodic annual increments of diameter, height, and volume were then correlated by regression analysis with those weather variables to examine effects of microclimate on tree growth by site type. We found that the correlation of diameter growth by site type was significantly correlated with most weather variables except daily photoperiod. Water condition was the most important factor for the height growth. For volume growth, on the other hand, the conditions such as relatively high temperature and low humidity provided favorable environment. Our regression analysis shows that aridity index is a good predictor for tree growth including diameter, height and volume increments.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 1983

The structures of oak stands were studied in relation to their productivity. Three plots classified by the site quality following to altitude, were selected on the oak stand located at Naryongri Eunsanmyun Buyeogun. The site qualities of the stand studied were generally estimated to be moderate in respect to some soil physical and chemical properties. Quercus variabilis was dominant species in the vegetation composition of the stand studied. The crown densities of the stand were varied from 65.4% in plot I to 78.2% in plot III and the parts, occupied with oak trees, ranged from 44.4% in plot I to 65.9% in plot III in the density. In the contrast to crown density, the growing stocks of oak trees ranged from $3.937m^3$ in plot I (73.4% of plot total) to $2.075m^3$ in plot III (84.3% of plot total). The occupied ratios, measured by crown class, exhibited dissimilarity between crown projection area and volume, and also the ratios brought into different patterns by plot. Highly significant correlations were proved between crown projection areas and volumes of individual oak trees by plot, but not proved in the relations by crown class. The cumulative growth, current annual increment and mean annual increment displayed various patterns by plot and by crown class in the heights, D. B. H. s and volumes of oak trees. The maximum values of current annual increment of height were generally recorded in 10 to 20 years, earlier than those of D. B. H. The mean annual increment of height, D. B. H. and volume maintained similar levels after about 10 years and fluctuated irregularly. The crown projection area and volume following to thinning decreased in the order of the thinning methods of grade A < grade B < crown thinning$90m^3/ha$ in about 40 years in the productivity of volume of the oak stand studied.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

With a view to developing a database of death years of Korean firs (Abies koreana) at Yeongsil in Mt. Halla and investigating their abrupt inter-annual growth reduction tree-ring analysis was employed. To this end, 10 living trees (YSL) were selected to establish a master chronology and 20 dead trees were used to date their dead years. To investigate the difference in death years by death types, 10 trees, which remained standing (YSSD) out of the 20 dead trees were selected. The rest 10 dead trees were already fallen (YSFD). Two increment cores per tree at breast height were extracted in contour direction using an increment borer. A 106-year master chronology (1911-2016) was successfully established from the 10 YSLs. Through cross-dating between individual YSSD time series and the master chronology, it was verified that 1 YSSD was dead in summer 1978, 1 YSSD between autumn 1999 and spring 2000, 2 YSSDs in summer 2007, 1 YSSD in summer 2010, 1 YSSD in summer 2012, and 1 YSSD in summer 2013. The youngest tree rings of 2 YSSDs having no bark were in 1977 and 2002. For the YSFDs, it was verified that 1 YSFD was dead between autumn 1997 and spring 1998, 1 YSFD between autumn 2001 and spring 2002, 2 YSFDs between autumn 2009 and spring 2010, 1 YSFD in summer 2010, and 2 YSFDs between autumn 2012 and spring 2013, while the youngest tree rings of 2 YSFDs having no bark were in 1989 and 2004. To note, the death years of two trees, one from each death type (YSSD and YSFD), could not be verified due to poor cross-dating with the master chronology. The inter-annual growth reductions of YSSD and YSFD occurred more frequently and intensively than YSL. Typically, the YSFD showed the most frequent and intensive inter-annual growth reduction. On comparing the inter-annual growth reductions with the corresponding records of typhoons however we could not find any reliable relationship. Finally, from prior reports and results of the current study it can be concluded that the death and abrupt growth reduction of korean fir at Yeongsil in Mt. Halla are not caused by only a certain environmental factor but various factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2022

In this study, growth changes of the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, basal area, volume, and biomass of Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.) on a plantation were examined via long-term monitoring. In addition, this study was performed to provide the basic data for timber production in line with DBH class by comparing the growth of the relative DBH size. Growth characteristics according to DBH class were analyzed by categorizing trees into five classes based on sorted DBH rankings: class I (1%-20%; upper 20%), class II (21%-40%), class III (41%-60%), class IV (61%-80%), class V (81%-100%; lower 20%). A total class (0%-100%) was also used. Total increment and mean annual increment (MAI) were calculated using data from nine measurements taken over 39 years. Tree characteristics based on average values and stand characteristics based on unit area per hectare were examined. According to the total increments of variables, the differences in DBH, basal area, volume, and biomass among classes I-V increased over time, whereas the height difference did not continually increase. According to MAI, the maximum DBH value was 0.92 cm·yr^-1 at age 23 in class I, whereas the maximum value in all trees was 0.69 cm·yr^-1 at age 17. The maximum value of height MAI for class I was 0.52 m·yr^-1 at age 23, whereas that for all trees was 0.49 m·yr^-1 at age 20. In terms of basal area, volume, and biomass growth at tree-and stand-level, the maximum MAI of class I and all trees was not observed during the measurement period. Therefore, additional long-term monitoring data are required to determine the maximum MAI of the variables.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.122-131
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• 2010

1. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find out the growth pattern according to Sasang Constitution. 2. Methods: One hundred forty seven students in the first grade of high school were classified into three groups(So-yangin, So-eumin, Tae-eumin) by QSCC II. We obtained the growth distance curve and growth rate, annual increment based on the Health Record according to Sasang Constitution. Health Record ranged from the first grade of the elementary school to the first grade of high school. And we calculated the Body mass index(BMI) and Mid-parential height(MPH). 3. Results: In case of Male, So-eumin and Tae-eumin showed linear growth patterns, but So-yangin showed rapid growth from 13 to 14. In case of Female, all of the groups showed similar growth pattern. But Tae-eumin showed a more growth from 8 to 9 than So-yangin groups. 4. Conclusions: Growth Pattern seemed to be different according to Sasang Constitution.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 2001

Larix kaemferi Carr. is one of main timber species in Korea that could be found in plantations and growing stands on all over the country The proper practice of thinning is one of very important techiques in silviculture, which greatly affects the quality and size of timber produced. Proper thinning period is considered to be important for maintaining stand growth before competition initiated. To investigate suitable thinning period, this study investigates the volume and radial growths of Larix kaemferi plantation in Mt. Worak located in the central part of Korea. The main findings and conclusions obtained from this study were as follow ; (1) The tree height curve equation for Larix kaemferi in Mt. Worak was calculated H=4.25783+0.80024D(H=Tree height, D=DBH). (2) To estimate tree volume for Larix kaemferi by DBH and tree height or only by DBH, regression equations were calculated as V=0.00147-0.002095D-0.000211H+0.00015D.H++$0.000744D^2$+$0.000008H^2$(V=Volume(($m^3$), H=Tree height(m), D=DBH(cm)), V=0.0000794-0.000512D+$0.000826D^2$. (3) The criteria of estimating thinning time of Larix kaemferi are the age when maximum tree height-MAI(mean annual increment) obtained and the age when annual DBH increments of dead trees decrease to below average. (4) The age of maximum tree height MAI was not significantly correlated with stocking. Therefore, it can not be used as a criterion for estimating thinning time of Larix kaemferi (5) The estimated thinning time equation of Larix kaemferi was obtained by regression analysis of the disk section collected from dead trees. The obtained equation is Y=0.2825+0.01752X(Y=Desirable thinning age, X=the sum total of nearest 4-trees interval(cm)). (6) General estimated thinning age of Larix kaemferi, which planted 3,086 stocks/ha, is concluded as 12 to 14 year.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of local climatic conditions on the annual increment of Korean white pine planted in Gapyung and Yaungdong. For this, stand variables such as mean DBH, mean height, basal area per hectare, and volume per hectare by stand age were measured and summarized for each locality. Based on these statistics, annual increments for 8 years from stand age 10 to 18 were calculated for each of stand variables. A topoclimatological technique which makes use of empirical relationships between the topography and the weather in study sites was applied to produce normal estimates of monthly mean, maximum, minimum temperatures, relative humidity, precipitation, and hours of sunshine. Then, the yearly climatic variables from 1990 to 1997 for each study site were derived from the spatial interpolation procedures based on inverse- distance weighting of the observed deviation from the climatic normals at the nearest 11 standard weather stations. From these estimates, 17 weather variables such as warmth index, coldness index, index of aridity etc., which affect the tree growth, were computed on yearly base for each locality. The deviations of measured annual increments from the expected annual increments for 8 years based on yield table of Korean white pine were then correlated with and regressed on the yearly weather variables to examine effects of local climatic conditions on the growth. Gapyung area provides better conditions for the growth of Korean white pine in the early stage than Youngdong area. This indicates that the conditions such as low temperature, high relative humidity, and large amount of precipitation provide favor environment for the early growth of Korean white pine. A ccording to the correlation and regression an analysis using local climatic conditions and annual increments, the growth pattern of Gapyung area corresponds to this tendency. However, it was found that the relationship between annual increments and local climatic conditions in Youngdong area shows different tendency from Gapyung. These results mean that the yearly growth pattern could not sufficiently be explained by climatic conditions with high variance in yearly weather variables. In addition, the poor growth in Youngdong area might not only be affected by climatic conditions, but also by other environmental factors such as site quality.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1962

(1) The objects of this study are to observe the possibility of regenerating a young merchantable pitch pine stand by sprouts and to compare the growth trend of sprouts with that of seedlings of same age grown under the almost same circumstances. (2) A plot of 20 year old pitch pine plantation, i.e. 200 trees on 0.1 ha of average D.B.H. 14 cm was clearcut at 20 cm above ground in April, 1945. By the late spring of that year sixty per cent of the cut stumps had sprouted. (3) Fourty to eighty sprouts were found on each stump (maximum:412 sprouts) at the first, but many of them had gradually died out leaving only four to five sprouts per stump by the time of three years after cutting. At that time only one vigorous sprout was left per stump by eliminating the weaker ones. (4) The sprouts, as they grew, started to cover the old stumps with new tissues developed from lower part of sprouts;consequently forming new root systems from the base of new tissues, and they appeared to be seedlings. When the age of sprouts was thirteen years old, the old stumps were completely decayed away and the reproduced stand from sprouts was averaged at 9.7 cm in D.B.H. and at 5.5m in height. (5) When the age of sprouts was thirteen years old, the sprouts exceeded the seedlings in both of total present growth and mean annual increment in height, volume, D.B.H. and basal area, but the seedlings began to exceed the sprouts in current annual increment of height, volume, D.B.H. and basal area at about ten years of age. The rates of increment of the seedling in height, volume, ect. were larger than those of sprouts except when they were one to four years old. From above facts, the following may be concluded: (1) In regenerating a pitch pine stand by sprouts, the lower the stump height, the better the result. (2) If no light limit exists, regenerating a pitch pine stand by sprouts is well possible even at the age of 20 year. (3) Pitch pine reproduction started from sprouts exceeds the seedlings of same age in growth under the almost same circumstances until they get ten years of age.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2001

This study was conducted to reveal the effects of local climatic conditions on the vegetative growth in a mature stand of Korean white pine based on climatic estimates. For this, the annual increments of stand variables such as DBH, height, basal area and volume were measured and estimated for seven years from 1974 to 1980. The local climatic conditions in the study site were also estimated by both a topoclimatological method and a spatial statistical technique. The local climatic conditions were then correlated with and regressed on the growth factors to reveal the relationships between the climatic estimates and the growth. It is found that relatively high temperatures had positive effects on the diameter growth. The yearly diameter growth increased when each of mean, maximum, and minimum temperature during the growing season was high. Height growth showed positively significant correlation with three climatic variables. The most important variable influencing height growth was the average of maximum temperature for 10 months from January to October. It means that the higher the average of maximum temperature for 10 months from January to October is, the more height growth of Korean white pine increases. Other climatic variables related to height growth were average of minimum temperature for 3 months in the early growing season and mean relative humidity for the growing season. Six climatic variables related to temperature had effects on basal area increment and all of them were positively correlated with basal area increment. Especially, temperatures from January to March were important factors affecting the basal area increment. In volume increment, high correlation was also recognized with most of temperature variables. This tendency was the same as the results in diameter and hight increments. This means that the volume growth increases when temperatures during the growing season are relatively high.