Estimating Above-ground Biomass of Melaleuca quinquenervia in Florida, USA

One hundred and thirty-eight Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S. T. Blake (broad-leaved paperbark) trees were harvested from six sites in South Florida to formulate regression equations for estimating tree above-ground dry weight. Sample trees were felled, cut, weighed, and sub-samples dried to a cons...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aquatic plant management 2000-01, Vol.38, p.62-67
Main Authors: Van, T K, Rayachhetry, M B, Center, T D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Melaleuca quinquenervia
USA, Florida
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Summary:One hundred and thirty-eight Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S. T. Blake (broad-leaved paperbark) trees were harvested from six sites in South Florida to formulate regression equations for estimating tree above-ground dry weight. Sample trees were felled, cut, weighed, and sub-samples dried to a constant weight. Diameters of trees ranged from 0.5 to 38.6 cm, total heights from 1.3 to 25.4 m, and dry weights from 0.2 to 309.4 kg. A number of site-specific biomass equations were developed from these parameters and tested statistically. Non-linear models based on stem diameter (diameter inside bark, DIB, cm) alone explained more than 97% of the biomass (W, kg) variance, with best results obtained after two-sided logarithmic transformations. Strong site-independent correlations were observed, and a single predictive equation: Log sub(e)(W) = -1.06 + 1.99*Log sub(e)(DIB) (R super(2) = 0.973) was statistically valid for a wide range of conditions. This equation was based on inside-bark diameter to account for differences in bark thickness which varies widely among different sites. Standing biomass of M. quinquenervia was estimated to vary from 129 to 263 dry mt/ha at six sites in South Florida; however, no trend seems evident among the sites in dry, seasonally wet, and permanently wet habitats. The equation described is useful in field evaluation of impacts of biological control agents, by allowing estimation of plant biomass from DIB measurements in permanent study sites where destructive sampling is not possible.
ISSN:0146-6623