Installation of dendrometers to monitor thickness growth

To gain a better understanding of the growth of urban trees under different environmental conditions in real time, we are measuring the trunk circumference of 6 selected tree species distributed across the city of Karlsruhe. Since October last year, we have started to install dendrometers (analog and digital) on 192 trees to measure the trunk circumference. In addition, we collect data on tree parameters, location and vitality and install measuring devices to record soil moisture and fine root growth. Digital dendrometers are used to measure growth at intervals of several measurements per hour. This gives us a more thorough picture of how the thickness growth develops over the course of the year.

All measuring devices should be installed before the start of the growth period. The growing period begins around April/May, when temperatures regularly remain above 5°C. Data is then collected over the growth period of this year and the following year.