Volume equations for beech tree in coppice stands of Northern Lucanian Apennine

Abstract

Auxometric studies on the Lucanian woods are few and limited to local sceneries. In this work we determined the existing relationships between the volume and trees dimensions of the stand coppices of beech tree on the Northern Lucanian Apennine. Have been, to such purpose, defined tree biomass equations that they constitute forecast models of local interest. The contribution, having supplied a framework of the forest considered and a synthetic description of the surveys carried out, focuses on the analysis of the main forecast models usually adopted in this kind of modelling, describing in detail the chosen models for determination of the variations of the volume in relation to the diameter breast height and in relation to such diameter and total height. The numerical coefficients of volume equations were estimated using weighted least square regression analysis because the heterogeneity of the variance of the dependent variables is constantly observed. The analysis of the residuals among observed and respective expected value and their distributions show a good adaptation of the fitting models to experimental observations.