Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The aim of this study was to develop a set of models that will allow the determination of
volume for Tectona grandis trees and stands grown in plantation form in Tanzania. As a
secondary objective, models describing tree and dominant stand height were developed.
Total volume and volume ratio models were fitted that respectively predict total tree
volume and merchantable volume. In order to allow the calculation of volume for
different product classes and dimensions, taper models were fitted. All the data were
collected by non-destructive sampling methods using a Barr and Stroud optical
dendrometer. This proved to be an accurate and inexpensive method of collecting data
for developing volume and taper models. Sampling stratification was based on age and
site quality and as wide a range as possible was covered to ensure adequate
representation of all growing sites and ages present in Tanzanian teak plantations. A
total of 2617 individual observations were made from 222 trees at three teak plantations.
Several models were selected from the literature to describe teak volume and shape.
Results indicated that the Schumacher and Hall (1933) volume equation best describes
total volume over and underbark to a fixed upper limit of 7.5 cm. Merchantable volume
to upper stem diameter and height limits were best described by respectively the
Burkhart (1977) volume ratio model and the Cao and Burkhart (1980) modification
thereof. Many of the fitted taper models were unable to adequately describe stem shape
over the whole stem, mainly due to the large range in tree sizes and ages used in model
fitting. The variable form taper model by Perez, Burkhart and Stiff (1990) provided the
best results according to various criteria and is recommended for predicting teak
underbark diameters to various heights and, if only a single model is required, the
merchantable volume.
Top height growth of teak stands was adequately described by the generalized
Schumacher (1939) model with the value of the exponent k estimated from the sample
data. From this a series of anamorphic site index curves were developed. Suitable
height-dbh curves were obtained by a simple linear model and predictions improved by
including stand age and site index as predictor variables.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2164 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van Zyl, Louis |
| Contributors | Bredenkamp, B. V., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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