Abstract

Height-diameter (H-D) models are important tools for forest management practice. Sandy Mongolian pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) are a major component of the Three-North Afforestation Shelterbelt in Northern China. However, few H-D models are available for Mongolian pine plantations. In this paper we compared different equations found in the literature for predicting tree height, using diameter at breast height and additional stand-level predictor variables. We tested if the additional stand-level predictor variable is necessary to produce more accurate results. The dominant height was used as a stand-level predictor variable to describe the variation of the H-D relationship among plots. We found that the basic mixed-effects H-D model provided a similar predictive accuracy as the generalized mixed-effects H-D model. Moreover, it had the advantage of reducing the sampling effort. The basic mixed-effects H-D model calibration, in which the heights of the two thickest trees in the plot were included to calibrate the random effects, resulted in accurate and reliable individual tree height estimations. Thus, the basic mixed-effects H-D model with the above-described calibration design can be an accurate and cost-effective solution for estimating the heights of Mongolian pine trees in northern China.

Highlights

  • Shelterbelt establishments are an effective solution in preventing natural disturbances and hazards such as soil erosion, avalanches or landslides [1]

  • dominant height (DH) was significantly correlated with other stand-level predictor variables except the diameter range per plot (Dr) One of the reasons why the stand-level predictor variables that were significantly correlated with the coefficient of the basic model did not significantly improve the H-D model is the multicollinearity

  • Basic and generalized H-D models were obtained for the Mongolian pine plantations on sandy land in northern China

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Summary

Introduction

Shelterbelt establishments are an effective solution in preventing natural disturbances and hazards such as soil erosion, avalanches or landslides [1]. Forest Program is the largest artificial forest shelter program in the world [2]. This shelter forest program plays a vital role in carbon sequestration and sand fixation, soil conservation, wood production and supply for the local communities [3]. By 2018, a forest area plantation of 3.01 × 107 hm had remained from the Three-North Shelter Forest Program [3]. Mongolica) is one of the most important and common species used for afforestation in the Three-North Shelter Forest Program.

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