Structure and Productivity of Juniperus occidentalis in Central Oregon

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Abstract
Western juniper ecosystems are well-adapted to the arid environments of central Oregon. In the stand examined, trees rarely exceeded 8 m in height and were uniformly spaced. Although foliage biomass averaged 4315.0 kg/ha, total stand leaf area was only 2.0 ha/ha. Total aboveground biomass averaged 21,161.4 kg/ha. Aboveground net primary production of the juniper was estimated at 1097 kg/ha per yr. Juniper forests have a higher proportion of bark and a much lower stem water-storage capacity than other coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest. The individual trees examined had leaf areas per unit of stem water-conducting tissue that were less than for fir species on more mesic sites but similar to those for 2 western pine species. Double sampling provided reliable estimates of means and confidence intervals for juniper biomass and leaf area.