Biomass estimation equations for mesquite trees in the Americas.

Abstract

Mesquite trees are the preferred dendroenergy sources in arid and semi-arid forests. In spite of their relative importance, regional aboveground biomass (AGB) equations for mesquite trees are scarce in the scientific literature. For that reason, the aims of this study were to: (a) harvest trees and develop regional biomass equations; (b) contrast measured data with equations developed previously; and (c) test the applicability of the fitted equation for mesquite trees in the arid and semi-arid forests of the Americas. We harvested 206 new mesquite trees from arid and semi-arid forests in northern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas) in addition to using two other previously compiled data sets from Mexico (N = 304) to develop a regional equation. To test the validity of this equation, for biomass equations reported for the rest of the country, as well as for North and South American mesquite trees, we contrasted AGB measurements with predictions of fitted equations. Statistical analysis revealed the need for a single, regional, semi-empirical equation as together the three data sets represented the variability of the aboveground biomass of mesquite trees across northern Mexico, as well as mesquite trees in America’s arid and semiarid regions. Due to the large quantity of mesquite trees harvested for sampling and their variability, the regional biomass equation developed encompasses all other North and South American equations, and is representative of mesquite trees throughout the arid and semi-arid forests of the Americas.