A New Stem Taper Function for Short-rotation poplar

Authors: Mohammed Benbrahim¹; André Gavaland²

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, Volume 18, Number 4, July 2003 , pp. 377-383(7)

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Abstract:

A new stem taper function was established for individual trees of two poplar hybrid clones grown on a short-rotation coppice. The model could be easily fitted and required three parameters to be estimated. It can be used to estimate both diameter at a given height and height for a given top diameter. Two of the three parameters controlled the conical and the neiloid parts of the stem. Significant differences in these parameters were observed between the two clones even if no differences were observed for diameter at breast height or total height of the stem. The model could not be integrated to calculate volumes (total volume, merchantable volume), which were estimated by numerical integration. However, use of this new model allows the optimal length of billets to be determined and thus maximizes the merchantable biomass of poplar in short-rotation coppice by minimizing the biomass of residues.

Keywords: Diameter; equation; height; model; Populus; shape; stem form

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02827580310005171

Affiliations: 1: Unité de Recherches Forestières INRA Centre de Bordeaux Route d'Arcachon 33610 Gazinet Cestas 2: Unité Agroforesterie et Forêt Paysanne INRA Centre de Toulouse 31326 BP 27 Castanet-Tolosane Cedex

Publication date: 2003-07-01

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