A height-diameter model for Pinus radiata D. Don in Galicia (Northwest Spain)

Abstract

A total of 26 models that estimate the relationship between height and diameter in terms of stand variables (basal area, quadratic mean diameter, maximum diameter, dominant diameter, dominant height, arithmetic mean height, age, number of trees per hectare and site index), were fitted to data corresponding to 9686 trees, using linear and non-linear regression procedures. The precision of the models was then evaluated by cross-validation. The data were collected during two inventories of 182 permanent plots of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) situated throughout Galicia, in the Northwest of Spain. Comparison of the models was carried out by studying the coefficient of determination, bias, mean square error, Akaike's information criterion and by using a F-test to compare predicted and observed values. Best results were obtained with those models that included any independent variable related to the height of the stand (mean or dominant height), although this implies a greater sampling effort for its application. The model of Tomé gave the best height estimates.