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How can you determine the age of a living tree?

The age of a tree is best determined by counting the growth rings but that is possible by a cut tree stump only. For a living tree an accurate idea can be held by measuring its diameter and estimating the age. Some new techniques also use radioactive carbon dating for this process.

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The age of a living tree could be estimated by looking at the number of annual rings in a cut stem. The number of annual rings formed is equal to the age of the tree.

An annual ring comprise of spring wood (early wood) and autumn wood (late wood). The activity of cambium is under the control of physiological and environmental factors and thus only one annual ring is formed every year.

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