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Growth Increment Area Increase

Reference Type
University Outreach Publication

<br /><br /> The secondary growth of trees produces unique mechanical and biological solutions to life. From shoot tip to root tip, a new growth increment is deposited on the outside of the last growth increment. This living sheath of tissue generated (facilitated) by the last growth increment, minimizes transport resistances and pathway defense, as well as spreading out bending, twisting and gravitational loads. As new growth increments generate, some of the most interior increments are internally shed and closed-down. The geometric result is a nearly round in cross-section, longitudinally tapered, nested set of conical shaped growth increment layers.<br /><br /> In considering the unique geometric positioning of tree growth increments, care must be taken to calculate the absolute amount of woody material generated in a given increment. The larger the growth increment grown over (the larger the tree diameter), the more woody tissue required to generate the next tissue sheath (of the same thickness). We can simplify this problem by considering growth increments shown in two dimensions as a cross-section. A cross-section can show a series of growth increments represented by "rings" of various thicknesses which depend upon tree growth rate.<br /><br /> Tree Biomechanics Series<br /><br /> FOR00-033<br /><br />

Authors
Dr. Kim D. Coder
Date Published
2005
Publisher
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Publisher Location
Athens, GA
Pages
5
Publication Number
FOR00-0033
Sub-Topics
Biology (tree), Disaster, Evaluation/Assessment, Mechanics (tree), Plant Health Care, Risk Assessment and Hazard, Safety Issues, Storms, Structure (tree)
State(s)/Region(s)
National, Southeast, International
Keywords
mechanics, Leaf characteristics, biomechanics, statics, risk assessment
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