Estimation of aerial biomass of Lychnophora ericoides (Mart.)

Abstract

For sustainable use of native plant species, knowledge of the amount of harvestable biomass is necessary. This study presents data on allometric relationships of Lychnophora ericoides Mart. (Asteraceae), an extractive resource in the Cerrado region of Brazil On the Fazenda Água Limpa (15° 45'S, 47° 57'W) of the Universidade de Brasilia, 38 individuals of this species were measured in the field, the parts above ground were harvested, separated into components and oven dried. The best regression equations to estimate biomass were geometric and the best fit was between total height and total biomass (r2 = 0.923). The economically useful portions, the leaves and branches accounted for approximately 20% of total above ground dry weight, but when used as the dependent variable, the strength of the relationship decreased (r2 = 0.694). The relationship between branch diameter and leaf biomass was similar to that between height and leaf dry weight (r2 = 0.600). The relation between the number of leaves and their biomass was linear but weak. The development of these equations is the first step towards the implementation of plans for sustainable use of this species.