Resource communication. Individual-tree growth model for radiata pine plantations in northwestern Spain

F Crecente-Campo,R Rodriguez-Soalleiro,U Dieguez-Aranda

doi:10.5424/fs/2012213-03109

F Crecente-Campo, R Rodriguez-Soalleiro + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2012213-03109

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Journal: Forest Systems	Publication Date: Nov 28, 2012
Citations: 7	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Santiago de Compostela

Abstract

Individual-tree basal area and height increment models were developed with data from 130 permanent plots of Pinus radiata D. Don located in Galicia (northwestern Spain). Mixed-models techniques were used for model fitting. Covariates acting at tree and stand level were included as fixed effects. Estimated values of stand variables obtained from aggregation of individual-tree predictions were used in model evaluation. The developed models accounted for 54% of the variability in basal area increment and 36% of the variability in height increment, with mean errors of 16 cm2 and 0.36 m, respectively. These models, along with an existing individual-tree mortality model, constitute a whole individual-tree growth model that can be used to simulate forest management alternatives, helping in forest managers’ decision making.

Highlights

130 plots located in Galicia, representing the existing range of ages, stand densities and sites, were used
Where ig is the annual basal area increment, BALMOD is the competition index developed by Schröder and Gadow (1999), BAR is a basal area ratio (100 · g/G, where g is the basal area of the tree –m2), ih is the annual height increment (m), SI is the site
Α0 α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 Fixed effects Estimate

Summary

Introduction

Don) is the most commonly used exotic conifer in reforestations in Spain, especially in northern Spain, where it covers approximately 270,000 ha (DGCN, 1998). In Galicia (northwestern Spain) it is estimated to cover 90,000 ha (Xunta de Galicia, 2001). Related studies mainly refer to stand growth and yield and to ecological and silvicultural aspects. Yield tables (Sánchez et al, 2003) and a dynamic stand growth model (Castedo-Dorado et al, 2007) have been developed for Galicia. Individual-tree growth models provide more detailed information than other modeling approaches (Gadow and Hui, 1999; García, 2003) and usually perform better than stand growth models for short term projections (Burkhart, 2003)

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