Influences of 11 tree and stand characteristics on growth at breast height are described for 144 Douglas firs, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb) Franco. Two increment cores were extracted from each tree to estimate radial growth for each of the periods 1941-1950, 1951-1955, and 1956-1960. Basal area growth 1956-1960 was also studied.
Site index and crown class were best for estimation of radial growth, but dbh and height were best for determination of basal area growth per tree.
For 58 Douglas fir trees crown class and dbh were the best indicators of average radial growth 1-10 years ago at all heights in the tree.
The extent to which growth at breast height can be used to estimate annual height growth and widths of earlywood, latewood and total ring throughout the whole tree was illustrated for 18 Douglas firs. Although highly variable, annual height increment and widths of earlywood and total rings grown in any calendar year are significantly correlated with the width of the ring grown at breast height in the same year.