Files and links (1)
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Modeling tree stem volume for hill Shorea robusta Gaertn. forests in Karnali Province, Nepal
Trees, Forests and People, Vol.18, pp.1-10
2024
Abstract
Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) is a major tree species of Nepal, which plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of livelihoods through multi-purpose uses. Developing a tree stem volume model provides a fundamental tool for estimating forest biomass, carbon stock, and economic value of timber and is useful for modeling growth and yield and analysis of forest ecosystems. This study developed tree stem volume models using measurements from 503 S. robusta trees of different community-managed forests in both the Siwalik Hill and non-Siwalik hilly regions of Nepal. As significant differentiation of the stem volume was observed by region in the analysis, a common tree stem volume model applicable to S. robusta forests in both regions was developed by applying the dummy variable modeling approach. Among some versatile growth functions (power, fractional and exponential functions) considered for fitting data with diameter at breast height, total tree height and crown width used as predictors, the power function provided the best fits (R2adj = 0.9730; RMSE = 0.1427) with no systematic residual trends observed. The model simulation exhibited an increased volume with increasing tree height but decreasing crown width. The presented model was proved to be statistically flexible and biologically plausible and thus can be applied for a precise volume prediction of the species of interest. Model accuracy can be increased with the model recalibrated using additional predictor variables (e.g., site and climate variables) and more data collected in wider geographical ranges of the Siwalik and non-Siwalik hills of the Karnali province and beyond.
Details
- Title
- Modeling tree stem volume for hill Shorea robusta Gaertn. forests in Karnali Province, Nepal
- Authors
- Kamal Raj Aryal (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringDipak Mahatara - Forest Research and Training Centre (Nepal)Rajendra Kumar Basukala - Forest Research and Training Centre (Nepal)Sabitra Khadka - Forest Research and Training Centre (Nepal)Sakar Dhakal - Institute of Forestry (Nepal)Shubhashis Bhattarai - Institute of Forestry (Nepal)Hari Adhikari - University of HelsinkiDinesh Jung Khatri - Division Forest Office (Nepal)Ram P. Sharma - Forest Research and Training Centre (Nepal)
- Publication details
- Trees, Forests and People, Vol.18, pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100675
- ISSN
- 2666-7193
- Copyright note
- © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Grant note
- Authors are thankful to Forest Research and Training Center (FRTC), Karnali Province, Nepal for making data available and financial arrangement to accomplish the work (Project number: 01/2079/2080).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991066897802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
47 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Forestry
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites