Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Generalized biomass equations for the main aboveground biomass components of maritime pine across contrasting environments

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Annals of Forest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

• Introduction

In order to predict the biomass of aerial components of maritime pine stands (Pinus pinaster Ait.), generalized allometric equations were developed using data collected from the southern and northern margins of its geographical area.

• Methods

The data comprised biomass values divided into foliage, branch, stem and minor components collected from 26 trees in Tunisia and 152 trees in France. Some trees were taken from plots receiving fertilisation and irrigation. The equation W = aD b, where W is the biomass, D the stem diameter and a and b are fitted parameters, explained 98% of the variations in the total aerial biomass. The addition of tree age reduced significantly the residual sum of squares for the foliage component. This model explains 79% of the variations in foliage biomass observed.

• Results

To a lesser extent, the age variable also improved the stem and branch models that explain 98% and 71% of the observed sum of squares, respectively. Site variables such as the stocking density, stand basal area, fertilisation or annual precipitation did not reduce the residual sum of squares, suggesting that their putative effects are conveyed through tree growth rate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antonio N, Tome M, Tome J, Soares P, Fontes L (2007) Effect of tree, stand, and site variables on the allometry of Eucalyptus globulus tree biomass. Can J For Res 37(5):895–906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balboa-Murias MA, Rodriguez-Soalleiro R, Merino A, Alvarez-Gonzalez JG (2006) Temporal variations and distribution of carbon stocks in aboveground biomass of radiata pine and maritime pine pure stands under different silvicultural alternatives. For Ecol Manag 237(1–3):29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin VC, Peterson KD, Burkhart HE, Amateis RL, Dougherty PM (1997) Equations for estimating loblolly pine branch and foliage weight and surface area distributions. Can J For Res 27(6): 918–927

    Google Scholar 

  • Beets PN, Madgwick HAI (1988) Above-ground dry matter and nutrient content of Pinus radiata as affected by lupin, fertilizer, thinning, and stand age. NZ J Forest Sci 18(1):43–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Bert D, Danjon F (2006) Carbon concentration variations in the roots, stem and crown of mature Pinus pinaster (Ait). For Ecol Manag 222(1–3):279–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bond-Lamberty B, Wang C, Gower ST (2002) Aboveground and belowground biomass and sapwood area allometric equations for six boreal tree species of northern Manitoba. Can J For Res 32(8):1441–1450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Delucia EH, Schlesinger WH (1994) Biomass allocation of montane and desert ponderosa pine—an analog for response to climate-change. Ecology 75(5):1474–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cienciala E, Cerny M, Tatarinov F, Apltauer J, Exnerova Z (2006) Biomass functions applicable to Scots pine. Trees-Struct Funct 20(4):483–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyle DR, Coleman MD (2005) Forest production responses to irrigation and fertilization are not explained by shifts in allocation. For Ecol Manag 208(1–3):137–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crow TR, Laidly PR (1980) Alternative models for estimating woody plant biomass. Can J For Res 10(3):367–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLucia EH, Maherali H, Carey EV (2000) Climate-driven changes in biomass allocation in pines. Glob Chang Biol 6(5):587–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delzon S, Sartore M, Burlett R, Dewar R, Loustau D (2004) Hydraulic responses to height growth in maritime pine trees. Plant Cell Environ 27(9):1077–1087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enquist BJ (2002) Universal scaling in tree and vascular plant allometry: toward a general quantitative theory linking plant form and function from cells to ecosystems. Tree Physiol 22(15–16):1045–1064

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gower ST, Haynes BE, Fassnacht KS, Running SW, Hunt ER (1993) Influence of fertilization on the allometric relations for two pines in contrasting environments. Can J For Res 23(8):1704–1711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu HF, Wang GG (2008) Changes in forest biomass carbon storage in the South Carolina Piedmont between 1936 and 2005. For Ecol Manag 255(5–6):1400–1408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaitaniemi P, Lintunen A (2008) Precision of allometric scaling equations for trees can be improved by including the effect of ecological interactions. Trees 22(4):579–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kajimoto T, Matsuura Y, Osawa A, Abaimov AP, Zyryanova OA, Isaev AP, Yefremov DP, Mori S, Koike T (2006) Size–mass allometry and biomass allocation of two larch species growing on the continuous permafrost region in Siberia. For Ecol Manag 222(1–3):314–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King JS, Giardina CP, Pregitzer KS, Friend AL (2007) Biomass partitioning in red pine (Pinus resinosa) along a chronosequence in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Can J For Res 37(1):93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert MC, Ung CH, Raulier F (2005) Canadian national tree aboveground biomass equations. Can J For Res 35(8):1996–2018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemoine B, Gelpe J, Ranger J, Nys C (1986) Biomasses et croissance du pin maritime. Etude de la variabilité dans un peuplement de 16 ans. Ann Sci For 43(1):67–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levia DF (2008) A generalized allometric equation to predict foliar dry weight on the basis of trunk diameter for eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L). For Ecol Manag 255(5/6):1789–1792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Serrano FR, Garcia-Morote A, Andres-Abellan M, Tendero A, del Cerro A (2005) Site and weather effects in allometries: a simple approach to climate change effect on pines. For Ecol Manag 215(1–3):251–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makela A, Vanninen P (1998) Impacts of size and competition on tree form and distribution of aboveground biomass in Scots pine. Can J For Res 28(2):216–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marklund LG (1987) Biomass functions for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in Sweden. Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Rapporter–Skog 43:1–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Merino A, Balboa MA, Rodríguez SR, Álvarez González JG (2005) Nutrient exports under different harvesting regimes in fast-growing forest plantations in southern Europe. For Ecol Manag 207(3):325–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muukkonen P (2007) Generalized allometric volume and biomass equations for some tree species in Europe. Eur J For Res 126(2):157–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Nabuurs G-J, Ravindranath NH, Paustian K, Freibauer A, Hohenstein W, Makundi W (2004) Chapter 3. LUCF sector good practice guidance. In: Penman J, Gytarsky M, Hiraishi T et al (eds) Good practice guidance for land use, land use change and forestry. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (for the IPCC), Kanagawa, p 312

    Google Scholar 

  • Niklas KJ, Spatz HC (2004) Growth and hydraulic (not mechanical) constraints govern the scaling of tree height and mass. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101(44):15661–15663

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pajtik J, Konopka B, Lukac M (2008) Biomass functions and expansion factors in young Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) trees. For Ecol Manag 256(5):1096–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parresol BR (1999) Assessing tree and stand biomass: a review with examples and critical comparisons. For Sci 45(4):573–593

    Google Scholar 

  • Parresol BR (2001) Additivity of nonlinear biomass equations. Can J For Res 31(5):865–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastor J, Aber JD, Melillo JM (1984) Biomass prediction using generalized allometric regressions for some northeast tree species. For Ecol Manag 7(4):265–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peichl M, Arain MA (2007) Allometry and partitioning of above- and belowground tree biomass in an age-sequence of white pine forests. For Ecol Manag 253(1–3):68–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porté A, Bosc A, Champion I, Loustau D (2000) Estimating the foliage biomass and area of maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) branches and crowns with application to modelling the foliage area distribution in the crown. Ann Sci For 57(1):73–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porté A, Trichet P, Bert D, Loustau D (2002) Allometric relationships for branch and tree woody biomass of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.). For Ecol Manag 158(1–3):71–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritson P, Sochacki S (2003) Measurement and prediction of biomass and carbon content of Pinus pinaster trees in farm forestry plantations, south-western Australia. For Ecol Manag 175(1–3):103–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Andre L, M'Bou AT, Mabiala A, Mouvondy W, Jourdan C, Roupsard O, Deleporte P, Hamel O, Nouvellon Y (2005) Age-related equations for above- and below-ground biomass of a Eucalyptus hybrid in Congo. For Ecol Manag 205(1–3):199–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt MDC, Grigal DF (1981) Generalized Biomass Estimation Equations for Betula-Papyrifera Marsh. Can J For Res 11(4): 837–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Socha J, Wezyk P (2007) Allometric equations for estimating the foliage biomass of Scots pine. Eur J For Res 126(2):263–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Ter-Mikaelian MT, Korzukhin MD (1997) Biomass equations for sixty-five North American tree species. For Ecol Manag 97:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trichet P, Loustau D, Lambort C, Linder S (2008) Manipulating nutrient and water availability in a maritime pine plantation: effects on growth, production, and biomass allocation at canopy closure. Ann For Sci 65(8):814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallet P, Dhote J-F, Moguedec GL, Ravart M, Pignard G (2006) Development of total aboveground volume equations for seven important forest tree species in France. For Ecol Manag 229(1–3):98–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CK (2006) Biomass allometric equations for 10 co-occurring tree species in Chinese temperate forests. For Ecol Manag 222(1–3):9–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zianis D, Mencuccini M (2003) Aboveground biomass relationships for beech (Fagus moesiaca Cz.) trees in Vermio Mountain, Northern Greece, and generalised equations for Fagus sp. Ann For Sci 60(5):439–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zianis D, Muukkonen P, Mäkipää R, Mencuccini M (2005) Biomass and stem volume equations for tree species in Europe. Silva Fenn Monogr 4:2–63

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was achieved during the first author’s Ph D. thesis work in Tunisia supported by a fellowship of the Université 7 Novembre Carthage (Faculté de Bizerte), as well as partly in France funded by INRA, EFPA department and Bordeaux-1 University. This work was achieved within the framework of the Région Aquitaine project “Durabilité de la filière Forêt-Bois de Pin maritime”. The European projects Carbo-Age (FP5) and Carboeurope (FP6) supported the data collection carried out at the Bray, Hermitage L and Bilos sites. A. Porté, D. Bert, F. Danjon, (INRA, UMR Biogeco), F. Bernier (INRA, UE Hermitage) and Tunisian and French technicians participated in the morphometric and biomass measurements.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Végétale, Jarzouna, 7021, Tunisia

    Olfa Shaiek, Beya Bachtobji, Salah Garchi & Mohamed Hédi EL Aouni

  2. INRA, UR1263 EPHYSE, F-33140, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Denis Loustau, Pierre Trichet & Céline Meredieu

Authors
  1. Olfa Shaiek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Denis Loustau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pierre Trichet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Céline Meredieu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Beya Bachtobji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Salah Garchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mohamed Hédi EL Aouni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denis Loustau.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Reinhart Ceulemans

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shaiek, O., Loustau, D., Trichet, P. et al. Generalized biomass equations for the main aboveground biomass components of maritime pine across contrasting environments. Annals of Forest Science 68, 443–452 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0044-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0044-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation