Application of the pipe model theory to predict canopy leaf area

The pipe model theory presents the idea that a unit weight of tree foliage is serviced by a specific cross-sectional area ofconducting sapwood in the crown. Below the crown, a large fraction of the tree bole may be nonconducting tissue, so thesapwood area would have to be known to estimate foliage. We applied the pipe model theory to the analysis of several westernconiferous species to learn whether the distribution of canopy leaf area could be accurately estimated from knowledge of thesapwood cross-sectional area at various heights. including breast height (1.37 m). Results are excellent, but taper in theconducting area must be considered when sapwood area is measured below the crown.