Development of an Allometric Model for Biomass Estimation of Pinus roxburghii, Growing in Subtropical Pine Forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Development of an Allometric Model for Biomass Estimation of Pinus roxburghii, Growing in Subtropical Pine Forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Anwar Ali1*, Muhammad Irfan Ashraf2, Saeed Gulzar2 and Muhammad Akmal2
ABSTRACT
This study attempts to develop an allometric model for biomass estimation of Chirpine (Pinus roxberghii) an important species of subtropical pine ecosystems in the Himalayas. Data was collected through destructive sampling of 32 sample trees growing in subtropical pine forests of Hazara Forest Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of the selected sample trees ranged from (12-93 cm) and height (H) varied between 9.50-40.10 m. Allometric equation was developed through testing different allometric models. The best fit model was obtained through logarithmic transformation of response and explanatory variables. It was found that square of DBH and H (D2H) was the best independent variable for predicting above ground biomass of an individual tree. The equation was also evaluated and compared with the existing generic allometric equations. Results showed that the allometric equation developed in this study gave more reliable estimates of aboveground biomass. A strong relationship (r2 = 0.99) found for tree biomass as response variable and DBH with height as explanatory variables. The significance of the model was demonstrated by F and P values. The model was found a good fit on the basis of values of sum of square (SS) of the residuals and standard error. Homogeneity of variance and normality of residuals were also validated for checking accuracy of the model. The result can be used for estimation of the above ground biomass and carbon stocks in subtropical pine forests of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas which represent similar ecological conditions.
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