New Whole-Stand Model for Unmanaged Loblolly and Slash Pine Plantations in East Texas

• Published in: Southern journal of applied forestry Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 69 - 76
• Main Author: Coble, Dean W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda Oxford University Press 01.05.2009
• Subjects: basal area; compatible growth and yield models; equations; forest plantations; forest stands; forest yields; growth models; lumber; merchantable yields; Pine trees; Pinus elliottii; Pinus taeda; prediction; Schumacher yield models; tree and stand measurements; volume
• ISSN: 0148-4419; 1938-3754
• DOI: 10.1093/sjaf/33.2.69

A new compatible whole-stand growth-and-yield model to predict total tree cubic-foot volume per acre yield (outside and inside bark) was developed for unmanaged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations in East Texas. This model was compared with the noncompatible whole-stand model of Lenhart (Lenhart, 1996, Total and partial stand-level yield prediction for loblolly and slash pine plantations in east Texas, South. J. Appl. For. 20(1):36-41) and the Lenhart (1996) model refit to current data. For the two species, all three models were evaluated with independent observed data. The model developed in this study outperformed both Lenhart models in prediction of future yield and basal area per acre for all age classes combined and by 5-year age classes. The Lenhart models consistently overestimated yield and basal area per acre. All three models predicted surviving trees per acre similarly. An example is also provided to show users how to use the new whole-stand model.