Comparison and evaluation of five methods of estimation of the Johnson system parameters

Abstract

The Johnson system of distributions was used to fit both diameter and height data collected from 226 sample plots located in the ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa P. Laws, ex C. Laws.) and mixed-conifer forest types in New Mexico and Arizona. To estimate the Johnson system parameters, five methods (namely the four-percentile method, Knoebel–Burkhart method, mode method, maximum likelihood estimation method, and a new method developed in the study, linear regression method) were compared and evaluated. For these sample plots, the linear regression method was superior for estimating parameters of SB distributions for both diameter and height.