Net Primary Productivity and Phytomass of Forests of the Tennessee Valley
Sharpe DM. 1976. Net Primary Productivity and Phytomass of Forests of the Tennessee Valley. Pages 387-399. In Central Hardwood Forest Conference. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. October 17-19, 1976
ABSTRACT: Net primary productivity and standing crop of phytomass were calculated for 464 plots in the Tennessee Valley using a general allometric equation and continuous forest inventory plot records of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Adjustments were made for the productivity and phytomass of minor vegetation on the basis of regional averages; roots were assumed to contribute 25 percent in each case. These were then aggregated to assess differences between physiographic provinces and forest types within the region. Values for the Blue Ridge Province were compared with quantities previously reported by R. H. Whittaker for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Average net primary productivity for the Tennessee Valley is 10.0 t (metric) ha -1 yr -1 and phytomass is 148 t ha-2 . Variability, both between forest types and physiographic provinces, is masked by the variability within these categories. However, net primary productivity and standing crop are significantly higher for some forest types within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park than for the Blue Ridge Province as a whole. These differences are attributed to the higher phytomass of forests in the National Park and to a relation of increased productivity with increasing phytomass for forests of the region.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Sharpe, David
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, ecology, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, phytomass, primary productivity, SER, Southeast Region, vascular plants