Preliminary results of estimating above- ground biomass using Randomized Branch Sampling method for planted Mulberry and Black Locust in Mobarakeh Steel region

• Main Authors: Seiavosh Bakhtiarvand Bakhtiari, Hormoz Sohrabi
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran 2011-12-01
• Series: تحقیقات جنگل و صنوبر ایران
• Subjects: Randomized Branch Sampling; above- ground biomass; Mulberry; Black locust; Mobarake Steel Complex
• Online Access: http://ijfpr.areeo.ac.ir/article_107518_5e40338e72d735d33c26904b8d34313c.pdf

Estimation of biomass has many applications in forestry practices and researches. Randomized Branch Sampling (RBS) is one of the methods, which is used for estimating tree biomass. In this research, RBS method was introduced and the accuracy of biomass estimation was tested for total and crown biomass of 5 trees in the plantations of two species including Mulberry (Morus alba) and Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). The plantations are located in Mobarake Steel Complex area in the semi-arid regions of Esfahan province in Iran. Actual biomass was measured by weighting all tree components and estimated biomass was calculated by RBS method. Actual and estimated biomass was compared by paired t –test. Results showed that there is no significant difference between crown and total amount of actual and estimated biomass for both species. Relative bias varied between 3.3 to 7.6 percent. Although results of this research by cutting 5 trees seem to be Preliminary, this research showed that RBS method can be considered as an accurate method for estimating tree biomass.