One-way volume table series for conifer stands of Sicily

Abstract

The aim of this study is to set up one-way volume table series to predict stem volume of the main conifers in Sicily, namely Italian stone pine, Aleppo pine and Corsican pine. For each species the relationships between height and tree diameter at breast height (dbh) resulted well represented by the semilogarithmic function, which was established as «guide line» of the height-diameter relationship. Adapting each height - dbh series according to the inclination of the «guide line», a set of isomorphic height curves was obtained for each species. Corresponding volume series was obtained from each height series on the basis of National Forestry Inventory volume tables. Oneway volume table series are of considerable usefulness in the context of forest management since they represent estimation tools with flexible application at different levels of forest management.