Bychenko V. Log-grade Volume Distribution in Oak Stands of RightBank Dnipro Forest Steppe of Ukraine and Refining its Assessment

The dissertation aims to characterize quantitative and qualitative features of growing stock volume of oak stands and develop an appropriate tree stems volume tables to satisfy operational requirements of forest enterprises. As an experimental material for the study, model tree measurements and log grading data have been collected on temporal sample plots established by the author in oak stands of RightBank Dnipro Forest Steppe. The stem taper models of oak trees have been developed in the dissertation. They have been used to compile tables that predict volume of oak stems using diameter at breast height and total tree height as input parameters. Using mathematical models of tree stem volume distribution by quality classes and distribution of merchantable wood volume by diameter classes, log-grade volume tables for oak trees were constructed. They are applicable for assessment of growing stock volume of pre-mature, mature and over-mature oak stands of Right-Bank Dnipro Forest Steppe. The specifics of the tables consists in that they provide different stem volume assessment of merchantable and semi-merchantable trees and predict distribution of merchantable volume into diameter classes using requirements of new European standards on wood quality.