An evaluation of big basal area factor sampling in appalachian hardwoods

Abstract

Big basal area factor (BAF) sampling techniques were investigated in a 70-year-old even-aged hardwood forest in northern West Virginia. Data collection procedures permitted the investigation of several small BAFs when employed with 12 big BAFs ranging from 55 to 300. Mean board foot volume per acre for sawtimber products was investigated along with a comparison of the resultant standard errors. The estimated mean volume per acre was quite stable. The same approximate mean volume per acre was obtained using big BAF values of 55 and 150 but with a 66% reduction in the number of sample trees needed for volume estimation. Sampling error increased with increasing big BAF, especially above values of 150. Sampling error within a single big BAF value was stable across the range of small BAFs sampled. Copyright © 2006 by the Society of American Foresters.