Development and Evaluation of Models for the Relationship between Tree Height and Diameter at Breast Height for Chinese-Fir Plantations in Subtropical China
Open Access
- 23 April 2015
- journal article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 10 (4), e0125118
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125118
Abstract
Tree diameter at breast height (dbh) and height are the most important variables used in forest inventory and management as well as forest carbon-stock estimation. In order to identify the key stand variables that influence the tree height-dbh relationship and to develop and validate a suit of models for predicting tree height, data from 5961 tree samples aged from 6 years to 53 years and collected from 80 Chinese-fir plantation plots were used to fit 39 models, including 33 nonlinear models and 6 linear models, were developed and evaluated into two groups. The results showed that composite models performed better in height estimate than one-independent-variable models. Nonlinear composite Model 34 and linear composite Model 6 were recommended for predicting tree height in Chinese fir plantations with a dbh range between 4 cm and 40 cm when the dbh data for each tree and the quadratic mean dbh of the stand (Dq) and mean height of the stand (Hm) were available. Moreover, Hm could be estimated by using the formula Hm=11.707×ln(Dq)-18.032. Clearly, Dq was the primary stand variable that influenced the height-dbh relationship. The parameters of the models varied according to stand age and site. The inappropriate application of provincial or regional height-dbh models for predicting small tree height at local scale may result in larger uncertainties. The method and the recommended models developed in this study were statistically reliable for applications in growth and yield estimation for even-aged Chinese-fir plantation in Huitong and Changsha. The models could be extended to other regions and to other tree species only after verification in subtropical China.Keywords
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Allometric relationships for volume and biomass for stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) in Italian coastal standsiForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, 2013
- Effects of Increased Nitrogen Deposition and Rotation Length on Long-Term Productivity of Cunninghamia lanceolata Plantation in Southern ChinaPLOS ONE, 2013
- Comparative evaluation of five height–diameter models developed for black spruce and jack pine stand-types in terms of goodness-of-fit, lack-of-fit and predictive abilityForest Ecology and Management, 2007
- A generalized height–diameter model including random components for radiata pine plantations in northwestern SpainForest Ecology and Management, 2006
- A stochastic height-diameter model for maritime pine ecoregions in Galicia (northwestern Spain)Annals of Forest Science, 2005
- Generalized height–diameter models—an application for major tree species in complex stands of interior British ColumbiaEuropean Journal of Forest Research, 2004
- A longitudinal height–diameter model for Norway spruce in FinlandCanadian Journal of Forest Research, 2004
- Development of ecoregion-based height–diameter models for white spruce in boreal forestsForest Ecology and Management, 2000
- Ecological meaning and predictive ability of social status, vigour and competition indices in a tropical rain forest (India)Forest Ecology and Management, 1999
- Development and growth of even-aged stands of Douglas-fir and grand firCanadian Journal of Forest Research, 1986