kroonhoogte

Kroonhoogte is a term used in Dutch forestry, arboriculture and horticulture to describe the vertical size of a tree's crown. In practical terms it is defined as the distance from the base of the crown, where foliage begins on the trunk, up to the crown apex. If the crown base is not clearly defined, practitioners may approximate kroonhoogte as the portion of the tree height occupied by the crown.

Measuring kroonhoogte can be done directly in the field by visually identifying the crown base and crown tip and using a measuring tape or pole, or indirectly with instruments such as laser rangefinders, drone-based photogrammetry, or LiDAR. In forest inventories it is often used alongside total height, diameter at breast height (DBH), crown width and crown projection to describe stand structure and to model growth and yield.

Applications include growth modeling, site productivity assessment, breeding selection, and management planning for timber production, habitat quality and urban forestry. Crown height also relates to light interception and competitive status within a stand, influencing tree vigor and form.

Crown height varies with species, age, site conditions and climate. Young trees typically allocate more height to crown development, while crown shape may change with thinning, pruning or damage. Because of this variability, kroonhoogte is most informative when compared with other measurements such as total height and crown width within a consistent measurement protocol.