Abstract

HERNANDEZ RAMOS, Jonathan; REYES HERNANDEZ, Valentín José  and  BELTRAN RODRIGUEZ, Leonardo. The crown as a relevant photosynthetic agent over forest management in temperate forests. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2022, vol.13, n.74, pp.4-33.  Epub Dec 09, 2022. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v13i74.1267.

Tree crown or canopy characteristics in a stand are influenced by light exposure, nutrient competition, tree density, vegetation structure and species. The canopy is a determining photosynthetic indicator in forest productivity and guideline in forestry. The objective of this review is to document in a general way in a first version the effect of physiological processes on crown architecture and its importance for forestry management of temperate forests. The dynamics of crown growth and development is a function of the interaction between individuals in the stand, tree age, phenological stage, climatic conditions, humidity and temperature, in addition to topographic and soil characteristics. The values of the leaf area index, aerial net primary productivity, growth and increment rates and the response in yield expressed in volume, biomass or carbon are indirect parameters that measure the efficiency of the physiological processes in the species. Knowing and understanding these processes in the architecture and dynamics of the crown contributes to planning and applying forestry activities according to the particular needs of each species or stand. The application of this knowledge is focused on improving the growth rates and increase of forests.

Keywords : Forest exploitation; aboveground biomass; forest physiology; tree-soil-atmosphere interaction; forest management; conifer forest.