Abstract: With the data of the branch analysis of 70 sample trees from 12 sample plots and stand pine nut yields(2008-2010) from 21 permanent sample plots for Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis) plantation in Mengjiagang Forest Farm, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang Province, we used allometric growth equation to develop the predicting models of crown volume(C_V) and crown surface area(C_A), and analyzed the correlation between pine nut yield of a bad harvest year, an average harvest year, a good harvest year and crown size. The correlations between crown volume and crown surface area with crown length, diameter at breast height, crown width and tree height were all significant, the maximum correlation coefficient was with diameter at breast height, and the minimum correlation coefficient was with tree height. The determination coefficients(R²) of the models were all above 0.55, and most of the prediction accuracies were above 85%. We used the models for crown volume and crown surface area to analyze their influence on the pine nut yield, and the result indicated that the pine nut yield had the linear correlation with crown volume and crown surface area for Korean pine plantation, in which the relationship between pine nut yield in a good harvest year with crown volume and crown surface area was the most obvious(r=0.726 7-0.733 8), followed by in an average harvest year(r=0.688 8-0.667 5), and the worst was in a bad harvest year(r<0.5). Generally, the models of crown volume and crown surface area with univariate and multivariate variables for Korean pine plantation standing tree are suitable for estimating the crown size of Korean pine, and providing further study of pine nut yield and sustainable management of Korean pine plantation.

Key words: Korean pine plantation, crown volume, crown surface area, pine nut yield