Tree Measurement
Overview
At this station Senior contestants will measure 4 standing trees in order to estimate the volume of wood that may be obtained from them. Unlike in the national contest, however, contestants will not estimate the volume of the wood in an entire forested area. They will only measure specified trees, including the volume of wood in each tree.
For each tree, Seniors will identify the species and estimate diameter, merchantable height, and volume. For the purposes of this contest, diameters will be measured and recorded in even 2-inch diameter classes. Tree heights will be measured in 16-foot logs to the nearest full half-log. The smallest tree that will be included for this contest station will be 10 inches DBH and one log merchantable height. Merchantable height will be measured from stump height to either an 8-inch top diameter, a major fork, or a serious defect that affects more than half the tree's diameter at that point.
Tree volumes can be found on the table below, which will be provided on the contest scoresheet.
Volume Table
|
HEIGHT (NUMBER OF 16-FOOT LOGS)
|
||||||||
DBH
|
1
|
1½
|
2
|
2½
|
3
|
3½
|
4
|
4½
|
5
|
10
|
36
|
48
|
59
|
66
|
73
|
-----
|
-----
|
-----
|
-----
|
12
|
56
|
74
|
92
|
106
|
120
|
128
|
137
|
-----
|
-----
|
14
|
78
|
105
|
132
|
153
|
174
|
187
|
200
|
-----
|
-----
|
16
|
106
|
143
|
180
|
210
|
241
|
263
|
285
|
-----
|
-----
|
18
|
136
|
184
|
233
|
274
|
314
|
344
|
374
|
-----
|
-----
|
20
|
171
|
234
|
296
|
348
|
401
|
440
|
480
|
511
|
542
|
22
|
211
|
290
|
368
|
434
|
500
|
552
|
603
|
647
|
691
|
24
|
251
|
346
|
441
|
523
|
605
|
664
|
723
|
782
|
840
|
26
|
299
|
414
|
528
|
626
|
725
|
801
|
877
|
949
|
1,021
|
28
|
347
|
482
|
616
|
733
|
850
|
938
|
1,027
|
1,114
|
1,201
|
30
|
403
|
560
|
718
|
854
|
991
|
1,094
|
1,198
|
1,306
|
1,415
|
32
|
462
|
644
|
826
|
988
|
1,149
|
1,274
|
1,400
|
1,518
|
1,637
|
34
|
521
|
728
|
934
|
1,119
|
1,304
|
1,447
|
1,590
|
1,727
|
1,864
|
36
|
589
|
826
|
1,063
|
1,274
|
1,485
|
1,650
|
1,814
|
1,974
|
2,135
|
38
|
656
|
921
|
1,186
|
1,428
|
1,670
|
1,854
|
2,038
|
2,224
|
2,410
|
40
|
731
|
1,030
|
1,329
|
1,598
|
1,868
|
2,081
|
2,294
|
2,494
|
2,693
|
Scoring
Scoring will occur as follows:
- One point for each correct tree identification
- Two points for each correct DBH
- Two points for each correct tree height
- Two points for each correct tree volume
The total possible score will be 7 points per tree, or 28 points for the set of four trees.
You will need a Biltmore stick that fits your arm length. You can make your own Biltmore stick by purchasing a yard stick or a blank stick or strip of wood, and taping a scale to your stick.
Resources
- Tree Measurement (PDF, pages 14-18 of the 2014 Invitational Handbook)
- Tree Measurements Using a Biltmore Stick (PDF, University of Kentucky)
- Biltmore Stick Instruction Video (Video by Paul Decker, University of Florida)
- Directions for Scale Stick Measurement (on the 4-H Forestry Invitational site)
- Scale Stick Directions (on the 4-H Forestry Invitational site)