Merchantable height of a single tree
ANU

 Merchantable height of a single tree
Forest Measurement and Modelling.

Merchantable height is used to predict conventionally merchantable woody material. Unfortunately, it is a variable quantity that depends on the specification of the merchantable products at the time of measurement.

Merchantable height may be defined as the distance from the base of the tree to the first occurrence of either:
  • the highest point on the main stem where the stem diameter is not less than some specified value, or
  • the lowest point on the main stem, above the stump, where utilisation of the stem is limited by branching or other defect.
Bole height Bole height is a compromise between the objective measurement of total height and the subjective measurement of merchantable height. A more objective measurement is repeatable by different measurers and over time. Such repeatability provides for more precise measurements.

Bole height may be defined as the distance from the base of the tree to the base of the first living branch that forms a part of the tree crown.

[merchhgt.htm] Revision: 6/1999
Cris.Brack@anu.edu.au