Enter the diameter at breast height (DBH) of a tree and the number of trees per acre into the calculator to determine the basal area per acre. This calculator helps in forest management and timber estimation.

Basal Area Per Acre Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the basal area per acre.

BA = (pi * (DBH/2)^2 / 144) * N

Variables:

  • BA is the basal area per acre (square feet)
  • DBH is the diameter at breast height of a tree (inches)
  • N is the number of trees per acre

To calculate the basal area per acre, use the formula to first calculate the basal area of a single tree using its diameter at breast height, then multiply by the number of trees per acre.

What is Basal Area?

Basal area is a term used in forestry to describe the cross-sectional area of a tree trunk at breast height (4.5 feet above ground) per acre of forest. It is a measure of the density of trees on a plot and is used to estimate the volume of timber in a forest and to plan for sustainable forest management.

How to Calculate Basal Area Per Acre?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Basal Area Per Acre.

  1. Measure the diameter at breast height (DBH) of a tree in inches.
  2. Count the number of trees per acre (N).
  3. Use the formula to calculate the basal area of a single tree: BA Tree = (pi * (DBH/2)^2) / 144.
  4. Multiply the basal area of a single tree by the number of trees per acre to find the total basal area per acre: BA = BA Tree * N.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem :

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) = 12 inches

Number of Trees Per Acre = 100