Validation of empirical yield curves for natural-origin stands in boreal Ontario

Abstract

In Ontario, yield tables for forest management planning have remained relatively unchanged since initial work in the 1950s that was based on a limited number of temporary sample plots. In 2000, the Forestry Research Partnership accelerated work on the Benchmark Yield Curve Project (initiated several years earlier by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, OMNR) to update these tables. The resulting yield curves incorporated data from more than 3000 permanent sample plots (PSPs) maintained in Ontario as well as PSPs from neighbouring and ecologically similar jurisdictions. Two stratifications were considered: OMNR's Northeast Region standard forest units and leading species. The 10 forest units considered cover the major commercial species in the boreal forest in Ontario. Equations were fit to the data to predict the growth and yield by stratum. The equations were validated against independently collected data and compared to predictions from the current wood supply yield curves in Ontario: Plonski's yield tables, modified Plonski, and northeast regional curves. Results of the validation showed that, with the exception of the MW2 and SF1 forest units, the new yield curves generally had less bias for gross total volume than Plonski and modified Plonski. Results for net merchantable volume were consistent with those for gross merchantable volume. The MW2 and SF1 forest units are more mixed in terms of species type, species light tolerance, and age. A leading species approach resulted in better predictions and is recommended for these forest units.