Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata

In order to quantify the climate change mitigation potential of forest plantations, information on total biomass and its growth rate is required. Depending on the method used, the study of the biomass behavior can be a complex and expensive activity. The main objective of this research was to develo...

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Main Authors: William Fonseca, Laura Ruíz, Marylin Rojas, Federico Allice
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica 2013-12-01
Series:Ciencias Ambientales
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/ambientales/article/view/7218/7425
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author William Fonseca
Laura Ruíz
Marylin Rojas
Federico Allice
author_facet William Fonseca
Laura Ruíz
Marylin Rojas
Federico Allice
author_sort William Fonseca
collection DOAJ
description In order to quantify the climate change mitigation potential of forest plantations, information on total biomass and its growth rate is required. Depending on the method used, the study of the biomass behavior can be a complex and expensive activity. The main objective of this research was to develop allometric models to estimate biomass for different tree components (leaves, branches, stem and root) and total tree biomass in Alnus acuminata (Kunth) in Costa Rica. Additionally, models were developed to estimate biomass and carbon in trees per hectare and for total plant biomass per hectare (trees + herbaceous vegetation + necromass). To construct the tree models, 41 sampling plots were evaluated in seven sites from which 47 trees with a diametric from 4.5 to 44.5 cm were selected to be harvested. In the selected models for the stem, root and total tree biomass, a r 2 >93.87 % was accomplished, while the r 2aj for leaves and branches was 88 %. For the biomass and carbon models for total trees and total plant biomass per hectare the r2 was >99 %. Average biomass expansion factor was 1.22 for aboveground and 1.43 for total biomass (when the root was included). The carbon fraction in plant biomass varied between 32.9 and 46.7 % and the percentage of soil carbon was 3 %.
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spelling doaj.art-c66b3a0413754f39ac3f523796121d9a2022-12-22T01:33:43ZengUniversidad Nacional, Costa RicaCiencias Ambientales1409-21582215-38962013-12-014623750http://dx.doi.org/10.15359/rca.46‐2.4Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminataWilliam Fonseca0Laura Ruíz1Marylin Rojas2Federico Allice3Forestry engineer, director of the School of Environmental Sciences, National University, Costa RicaForestry engineer and researcher at the School of Environmental Sciences, University Nacional, Costa RicaForestry engineer and researcher at the School of Science Environmental National University, Costa RicaForestry engineer and researcher School of Environmental Sciences at the National University, Costa RicaIn order to quantify the climate change mitigation potential of forest plantations, information on total biomass and its growth rate is required. Depending on the method used, the study of the biomass behavior can be a complex and expensive activity. The main objective of this research was to develop allometric models to estimate biomass for different tree components (leaves, branches, stem and root) and total tree biomass in Alnus acuminata (Kunth) in Costa Rica. Additionally, models were developed to estimate biomass and carbon in trees per hectare and for total plant biomass per hectare (trees + herbaceous vegetation + necromass). To construct the tree models, 41 sampling plots were evaluated in seven sites from which 47 trees with a diametric from 4.5 to 44.5 cm were selected to be harvested. In the selected models for the stem, root and total tree biomass, a r 2 >93.87 % was accomplished, while the r 2aj for leaves and branches was 88 %. For the biomass and carbon models for total trees and total plant biomass per hectare the r2 was >99 %. Average biomass expansion factor was 1.22 for aboveground and 1.43 for total biomass (when the root was included). The carbon fraction in plant biomass varied between 32.9 and 46.7 % and the percentage of soil carbon was 3 %.http://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/ambientales/article/view/7218/7425Alnus acuminataAllometric modelsBiomassCarbon fixationClimate change
spellingShingle William Fonseca
Laura Ruíz
Marylin Rojas
Federico Allice
Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
Ciencias Ambientales
Alnus acuminata
Allometric models
Biomass
Carbon fixation
Climate change
title Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
title_full Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
title_fullStr Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
title_full_unstemmed Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
title_short Allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in Alnus acuminata
title_sort allometric models for estimating biomass and carbon in alnus acuminata
topic Alnus acuminata
Allometric models
Biomass
Carbon fixation
Climate change
url http://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/ambientales/article/view/7218/7425
work_keys_str_mv AT williamfonseca allometricmodelsforestimatingbiomassandcarboninalnusacuminata
AT lauraruiz allometricmodelsforestimatingbiomassandcarboninalnusacuminata
AT marylinrojas allometricmodelsforestimatingbiomassandcarboninalnusacuminata
AT federicoallice allometricmodelsforestimatingbiomassandcarboninalnusacuminata