Remarks on Height-Diameter Modeling

Lei Yuancai; Bernard Parresol

doi:10.2737/SRS-RN-10

Treesearch

Remarks on Height-Diameter Modeling

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Lei Yuancai, Bernard Parresol

Year:

2001

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-RN-10

Source:

Res. Note SE-10. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.

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Download (PDF 494 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/2817.pdf

Abstract

Height-diameter model forms in earlier published papers are examined. The selection criteria used in height-diameter model forms are not reasonable when considering tree biological growth pattern. During model selection, forms for height-diameter relationships should include consideration of both data-related and reasonable biological criteria, not just data-related criteria. A reasonable model form should possess the S- shaped functional roperties of monotonic increment (dy/dt > 0), 9 inflection point (d²y/dt² == 0), and asymptotical value y®asymptote as t®¥), rather than the concave shaped, functional properties. The S-shaped models are best when appropriate data are collected (data sets containing early growth). The Bertalanffy-Richards and Schnute functions are recommended for modeling height-diameter relationships, and an example contrasts the fit of the sigmoidal Schnute function against the concave Meyer function.

Keywords

height-diameter, model form, Schnute function, selection criteria, sigmoid growth

Citation

Yuancai, Lei; Parresol, Bernard R. 2001. Remarks on Height-Diameter Modeling. Res. Note SE-10. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.