Which metric represents the average annual growth since stand establishment?

Which metric represents the average annual growth since stand establishment?

• A. Current annual increment
• B. Mean annual increment
• C. Periodic annual increment
• D. Total annual increment

Answer: (B)

The metric being tested is mean annual increment. It represents the average amount of growth per year from the time the stand was established. You calculate it by taking the total growth achieved up to the current age and dividing by the stand’s age (years). This gives the overall rate of growth averaged across the entire life of the stand, which is why it’s the best choice for “average annual growth since stand establishment.” Current annual increment measures only the growth in the present year, not the long-term average. Periodic annual increment covers growth over a specified interval (which may be shorter or longer than a year). Total annual increment is not the standard term for lifetime-average growth.

The metric being tested is mean annual increment. It represents the average amount of growth per year from the time the stand was established. You calculate it by taking the total growth achieved up to the current age and dividing by the stand’s age (years). This gives the overall rate of growth averaged across the entire life of the stand, which is why it’s the best choice for “average annual growth since stand establishment.”

Current annual increment measures only the growth in the present year, not the long-term average. Periodic annual increment covers growth over a specified interval (which may be shorter or longer than a year). Total annual increment is not the standard term for lifetime-average growth.