Hello, researchgater.
Recently, I've collected some published biomass equations for a species, and then attempt to develop generic equations for estimating forest inventory-based regional forest biomass. So, how to develop generic equations based on published ones? Could you recommend some literature or share some suggestions? Thanks a lot.
If you understand site index studies, they relate site quality to tree height and age curve, typically varied by soil type, moisture/climate. Probably biomass could be factored in with diameter, volume measures, equations. Combining your forestry with soils information, may be a good way to proceed if your regional soils are mapped. I suppose there are also stand density factors to consider. If published equations could be evaluated by soil type (which also includes other indicators as nutrients and moisture) and site index, you might be able to factor one or both into growth and yield equations, to increase range of application into a more generic equation. Cooperation with others who have collected and published data may be needed, unless the added background information is available.
For a hopefully helpful answer, see attached.
More in general, it is myth that tree biomass is a species characteristic (see my pertinent earlier Q§As). William's answer implies also that it is not the species, but the site (the usual suspects: climate, incoming solar radiation, soil, pests and management). If growth it is not a species but an environmental characteristic, you are on the right track with your generic equation.
Species differ, of course, in where biomass is allocated (roots/stem/leaves) and in what type of wood (hard/soft). They also differ in how much other plants can accumulate biomass onsite.
Article Carbon Stock of European Beech Forest; A Case at M. Pizzalto, Italy
You might want to look at the following technical report, which explains in some detail an effort to assemble generalized biomass relations for trees:
Comprehensive Database of Diameter-based Biomass Regressions for North American Tree Species
by Jennifer C. Jenkins, David C. Chojnacky, Linda S. Heath, Richard A. Birdsey
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Northeastern Research Station
General Technical Report NE-319
(http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/durham/4104/papers/ne_gtr319_jenkins_and_others.pdf)
I agree with friends that the site factors play more important role. so local biomass equations with site factors will be more useful.
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