A parameter-based method for modelling biomass accumulations in forest stands: Theory

Abstract

A parameter-based method is proposed for modelling annual plant- and soil-biomass increments in forest stands. Model components include foliage, above-ground wood of live and dead trees, forest floor, roots and the solum beneath the forest floor. Also considered is a leaf-area component to simulate biomass production in stands growing from an open to a fully-stocked condition. The annual increments within each component are developed by quantifying processes such as leaf production, photosynthate allocation for wood and root growth, litterfall, and decay. The approach undertaken leads to a matrix representation, and a method to parameterize the increments of each component in terms of measurable transfer coefficients. Knowledge of these coefficients allows for analytical or numerical simulations of annual biomass accumulations for selected site and species combinations, and for a way to examine existing biomass data in a systematic manner.