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A flexible modeling of irregular diameter structure for the volume estimation of forest stands

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Simple distribution models (SDMs) have deficiencies in portraying irregular forest diameter structure. This paper introduces mixture distribution models (MDMs) to improve the estimation accuracy of stand volume of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) forests. Stand volume was estimated by combining the suitable diameter mixture model and diameter–height model. Appropriate mixture models are derived by integrating multiple SDMs of Burr III and XII, Johnson SB, Weibull or lognormal probability density functions (pdf) that satisfied the criteria of goodness of fit tests. Results showed that the average bias of volume estimation for all of the study plots using SDM and MDM approaches are underestimated by 6.93 and 2.42 m3, respectively. Each of the estimates is equivalent to an estimation error of 25.59 ± 18.18 and 7.08 ± 2.97 %. This suggests that the MDM approach is a more flexible and suitable modeling technique for forest volume estimation, in particular for forests that have been frequently disturbed by natural events.

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Abbreviations

dbh:

Tree diameter at breast height

h :

Tree height

SDM:

Simple distribution model/modeling

MDM:

Mixture distribution model/modeling

pdf:

Probability density function

K–S:

Kolmogorov–Smirnov test

A–D:

Anderson–Darling test

χ 2 :

Chi-square test

volT :

Total volume of a plot

evolT :

Estimates of volT

mvolT :

Measured volT

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Forestry Bureau in Taiwan under Grant 100AS-8.3.3-FM-e1. Prof. Tsogt Zandraabal, who is with the Institute of Botany, Mongolia Academy of Sciences, is highly appreciated for his kind assistance in dealing with the ground survey of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, 300 University Road, Chiayi, 60004, Taiwan

    Khongor Tsogt & Chinsu Lin

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  1. Khongor Tsogt
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  2. Chinsu Lin
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Correspondence to Chinsu Lin.

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Tsogt, K., Lin, C. A flexible modeling of irregular diameter structure for the volume estimation of forest stands. J For Res 19, 1–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-012-0380-z

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