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Allometric above-belowground biomass equations for Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. & Endl.) natural regeneration in the Chilean Patagonia

Équations allométriques pour la biomasse aérienne et souterraine pour la régénération naturelle de Nothofagus pumilio en Patagonie chilienne

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Abstract

  • • In the present study, allometric biomass equations were developed for Nothofagus pumilio natural regeneration relating foliage, stem and branches (aboveground), roots (belowground), and total biomass to basal diameter and total height, based on destructive measurements of 390 naturally regenerated seedlings and saplings.

  • • Basal diameter was the most important independent variable in all equations and accounted for more than 88% of the variability of the different biomass components. The addition of height as a second independent variable slightly improved the predictions.

  • • The best-fit biomass components equations that were based on combinations of basal diameter and height as independent variables had adjusted R 2 values between 0.80 and 0.95 and a mean percent standard error between 21.3% and 26.6%.

  • • Based on the best-fit biomass equations and the natural regeneration development in a 14-years chronosequence in forests managed under shelterwood cuts, the total biomass varied from 0.9 Mg ha−1 (0.5 Mg ha−1 above and 0.4 Mg ha−1 belowground) for the primary forest, before the shelterwood cuts, to 19.5 Mg ha−1 (13.6 Mg ha−1 above and 5.9 Mg ha−1 belowground) 14 years after the seed cut. In the same period, carbon storage varied, from 0.5 Mg ha−1 to 9.8 Mg ha−1.

Résumé

  • • Dans la présente étude, des équations allométriques ont été élaborées pour prédire la biomasse du feuillage, des tiges, des branches et des racines, ainsi que de la biomasse totale, à partir du diamètre à la base et de la hauteur totale dans une régénération naturelle de Nothofagus pumilio. Des mesures destructives ont été réalisées sur 390 plants régénérés naturellement et de jeunes arbres.

  • • Le diamètre à la base était la plus importante variable indépendante dans toutes les équations et représentait plus de 88 % de la variabilité des différentes composantes de la biomasse. L’ajout de la hauteur en tant que deuxième variable indépendante, a légèrement amélioré les prédictions.

  • • Le meilleur ajustement des équations des composantes de la biomasse, fondées sur des combinaisons du diamètre à la base et de la hauteur comme variables indépendantes, a produit des valeurs de R 2 comprises entre 0,80 et 0,95 et un pourcentage moyen d’erreur standard compris entre 21,3 % et 26,6 %.

  • • En utilisant le meilleur ajustement des équations de biomasse, nous avons établi dans le cas d’une régénération naturelle étudiée à travers une chronoséquence de 14 années dans des forêts gérées en coupes d’abri, que l’accroissement en biomasse totale a varié entre 0,9 Mg ha−1 (0,5 pour les parties aériennes et 0,4 pour les racines) pour la forêt primaire, avant les coupes d’abri, et 19,5 Mg ha−1 (13,6 et 5,9, respectivement) 14 ans après la coupe d’ensemencement. Dans la même période, le stockage du carbone est passé de 0,5 à 9,8 Mg ha−1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Landschaftsökologie, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Robert Koch Straße 26, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Andreas Schmidt, Marcela Poulain, Daniel Klein, Kim Krause & Andreas Schulte

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa, 11315, Santiago, Chile

    Karen Peña-Rojas & Harald Schmidt

Authors
  1. Andreas Schmidt
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  2. Marcela Poulain
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  3. Daniel Klein
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  4. Kim Krause
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  5. Karen Peña-Rojas
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  6. Harald Schmidt
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  7. Andreas Schulte
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Correspondence to Andreas Schmidt.

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Schmidt, A., Poulain, M., Klein, D. et al. Allometric above-belowground biomass equations for Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. & Endl.) natural regeneration in the Chilean Patagonia. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 513 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009030

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009030

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