Biomass Estimates for Natural-Origin Hardwood Saplings of Southeastern Arkansas

Abstract

Biomass estimates are integral to carbon and feed stocks, fuel loads, and primary productivity. Understories of mature, natural-origin, pine (Pinus spp.) and pine-hardwood stands in southeastern Arkansas are dominated by shade-tolerant hardwoods which are poorly represented by existing biomass equations. Destructive sampling of 120 saplings [(0.5–12.2 cm in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.)] was used to develop biomass models for six hardwood species. A linear, two-parameter logarithmic model was used with d.b.h. as the main predictor. Local equations were compared to standard national-scale equations. Although local equations did not outperform standard equations, use of standard equations may result in estimation error of 4–5 kg. The Updated standard equations (Chojnacky and others 2014) had better fit to local data than the Jenkins standard equations (Jenkins and others 2003). A pooled biomass model provided a good fit to observations (R² = 0.97) indicating the potential for use of a general equation.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 22nd Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference

Citation

Bataineh, Mohammad M. 2024. Biomass Estimates for Natural-Origin Hardwood Saplings of Southeastern Arkansas. In: Bragg, Don C.; Oswald, Brian P.; Koerth, Nancy E., eds. Proceedings of the 22nd biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-274. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 26–32. https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-274-Pap5.