Preliminary results of estimating above- ground biomass using Randomized Branch Sampling method for planted Mulberry and Black Locust in Mobarakeh Steel region

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Forest Science, Faculty of Natural Resource and Earth Science, University of Shahrekord

2 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Natural Resource and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Estimation of biomass has many applications in forestry practices and researches. Randomized Branch Sampling (RBS) is one of the methods, which is used for estimating tree biomass. In this research, RBS method was introduced and the accuracy of biomass estimation was tested for total and crown biomass of 5 trees in the plantations of two species including Mulberry (Morus alba) and Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). The plantations are located in Mobarake Steel Complex area in the semi-arid regions of Esfahan province in Iran. Actual biomass was measured by weighting all tree components and estimated biomass was calculated by RBS method. Actual and estimated biomass was compared by paired t –test. Results showed that there is no significant difference between crown and total amount of actual and estimated biomass for both species. Relative bias varied between 3.3 to 7.6 percent. Although results of this research by cutting 5 trees seem to be Preliminary, this research showed that RBS method can be considered as an accurate method for estimating tree biomass.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research
Volume 19, Issue 4 - Serial Number 46
December 2012
Pages 571-562

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