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Verification of the Jenkins and FIA sapling biomass equations for hardwood species in Maine

Informally Refereed

Abstract

In 2009, the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) updated its biomass estimation protocols by switching to the component ratio method to estimate biomass of medium and large trees. Additionally, FIA switched from using regional equations to the current FIA aboveground sapling biomass equations that predict woody sapling (2.5 to 12.4 cm d.b.h.) biomass using the Jenkins et al. (2003) equations (Forest Science 49 (1): 12-35) and then multiplying predictions by species-specific adjustment factors. The new equations have not been verified for saplings in Maine where sapling-dominated stands make up nearly 24 percent of the forest land. We verified the FIA sapling equations and Jenkins et al. (2003) equations for naturally regenerated hardwood species from an experiment in eastern Maine. Results demonstrate the FIA sapling equations underestimated observed aboveground woody biomass by between 15 and 37 percent. Our results suggest that the current species-specific sapling adjustment factors were inadequate for the trees in this study, and we propose a new set of adjustment factors based on the observed data.

Parent Publication

Keywords

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

Citation

Nelson, Andrew S.; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Wagner, Robert G.; Saunders, Michael R. 2012. Verification of the Jenkins and FIA sapling biomass equations for hardwood species in Maine. 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]: 373-377.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42784