Taper and Volume Systems Based on Ratio Equations for Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. in Mexico

• Main Authors: Guadalupe Geraldine García-Espinoza, Oscar Alberto Aguirre-Calderón, Gerónimo Quiñonez-Barraza, Eduardo Alanís-Rodríguez, Héctor Manuel De Los Santos-Posadas, J. Jesús García-Magaña
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-06-01
• Series: Forests
• Subjects: taper volume; compatible equation; stem volume; branch volume; total tree volume
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/6/344

Studies on functional relationships between relative stem diameter and height to estimate timber yield are useful in the management of commercial forest plantations. With taper analysis data of 42 Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. trees in the indigenous community of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro , Michoacan, Mexico, six compatible systems for predicting taper (d), merchantable volume (Vm), stem volume (Vs), total tree volume (Vt) and branch volume (Vb) were fitted and evaluated. The compatible taper and merchantable volume equations were based on volume ratio equations. Three Vs equations were tested in each system. In general, the compatible systems presented statistical accuracy in the d, Vm, Vs and Vt components but were less accurate in Vb. Three compatible systems were selected, according to their more efficient goodness-of-fit statistics, and a different total volume equation was incorporated into each system. The compatible systems based on volume ratio equations are simple, reliable tools for estimation of stand timber stocks and product classification of P. pseudostrobus in commercial forest plantations in Mexico.