A pre-harvest method for predicting understory light levels created by artificial canopy gaps

A new method for predicting understory light levels around an artificial canopy gap prior to the selective cutting is presented. In two even-aged coppice stands, hemispherical photographs were taken at a height of 1.3 m, and crowns of each canopy stem on the photographs were identified by field observations. To predict light levels after cutting, we used computerized images of the hemispherical photographs, in which we digitally erased all crowns to be cut (named ‘erasing method’). Light levels were calculated by an analyzing program; HEMIPHOT. Light levels predicted by the ‘erasing method’ were compared with that calculated by the ordinary photograph-analyzing method using photographs taken after the actual cutting. The correlations between the two methods were highly significant in the two stands. The ‘erasing method’ is eminently effective for the prediction of understory light levels in an artificial canopy gap.