Heartwood/sapwood profile and the tradeoff between trunk and crown increment in a natural forest: the case study of a tropical tree (Dicorynia guianensis Amsh., Fabaceae)

Key message Sapwood area and the radial growth rate of the trunk follow the same pattern at breast height, with an initial increase and subsequent constant value, resulting from the increasing growth allocation toward the crown rather than tree decline. Heartwood area and heartwood volume in the trunk increase more rapidly after this shift occurs.