• McNab, W. Henry
  Southeastern Forest Experiment Station Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Asheville, NC
  

The lowermost classified componenet of a 7-level hierarchical site classification system was evaluated in a 21-year-old clearcut stand on a homogeneous, low-to-moderate quality site in the Bent Creek basin. Total heights of six overstory tree species (2 pines, 2 oaks, and 2 non-oaks) ranged from 25 to 70 feet. Tree heights were strongly correlated with variables measured on site, especially microtopography, thickness of the soil A+E horizons, and an index of plot area covered by several plant species. A combination of topographic and vegetation variables appears to provide greatest accuracy in assessing site quality at this level in the hierarchy. About 4 minutes per plot were required to measure the model's topographic, soil, and vegetative variables.