Biomass functions applicable to European beech

• Published in: Journal of forest science (Praha) Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 147 - 154
• Main Authors: Cienciala, E., Černý, M., Apltauer, J., Exnerová, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 30.04.2005
• Subjects: aboveground tree biomass; allometry; branch; carbon; stem; wood density
• ISSN: 1212-4834; 1805-935X
• DOI: 10.17221/4553-JFS

This material describes parameterization of allometric functions applicable to biomass estimation of European beech trees. It is based on field data from destructive measurements of 20 full-grown trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) from 5.7 to 62.1 cm. The parameterization was performed for total tree aboveground biomass (AB; besides stump), stem and branch biomass, respectively. The allometric functions contained two or three parameters and used dbh either as a single independent variable or in combination with tree height (H). These functions explained 97 to 99% of the variability in the measured AB. The most successful equation was that using both dbh and H as independent variables in combination with three fitted parameters. H, as the second independent variable, had rather a small effect on improving the estimation: in the case of AB, H as independent variable improved prediction accuracy by 1-2% whereas in the case of branch biomass by about 5%. The parameterized biomass equations are applicable to tree specimens of European beech grown in typically managed forests.