Electrical resistance and capacitance measurements on young, spaced and unspaced, defoliated and protected, balsam fir trees

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Abstract
Electrical resistance and capacitance were measured in 1981 and 1982 on 25- to 30-year-old spaced and unspaced, defoliated and protected balsam fir (Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill.) trees on the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia. Significantly higher average electrical resistance readings were observed for the spaced and unspaced, defoliated trees than for the comparable protected trees. With one exception, the average capacitance was significantly lower in defoliated compared with protected trees. In general, for both the defoliated and protected trees, decreases in average electrical resistance were associated with increases in foliar biomass. Caution has to be taken when monitoring electrical properties in the field because of seasonal cyclic patterns, and aberrations in tissues of dying or dead trees.