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Improved prediction of hardwood tree biomass derived from wood density estimates and form factors for whole trees

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Data from hardwood trees in Michigan were analyzed to investigate how differences in whole-tree form and wood density between trees of different stem diameter relate to residual error in standard-type biomass equations. The results suggested that whole-tree wood density, measured at breast height, explained a significant proportion of residual error in standard-type allometric equations, but whole-tree form factors explained more. However, such form factors are highly variable from tree to tree and may be difficult to predict with any precision from simple tree measurements. Whole-tree form factors were found to be highly correlated with the percentage of total aboveground mass in tree branches, which likely relates to the allometric scaling of the deliquescent hardwood growth form. These results suggest that further studies are needed to understand whole-tree form factors and incorporate them into tree biomass equations.

Parent Publication

Keywords

statistics, estimation, sampling, modeling, remote sensing, forest health, data integrity, environmental monitoring, cover estimation, international forest monitoring

Citation

MacFarlane, David W.; Ver Planck, Neil R. 2012. Improved prediction of hardwood tree biomass derived from wood density estimates and form factors for whole trees. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 352-355.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42776