Evaluation of generic allometric models for the estimation of above-ground biomass in the Indian bamboo species

• T. K. Binsiya

  Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682 022, India , KSCSTE-Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala 680 653, India

  Author

• S. Sandeep

  KSCSTE-Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala 680 653, India

  Author

• V. B. Sreekumar

  KSCSTE-Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala 680 653, India

  Author

Understanding forest productivity, carbon sequestration potential and the development of greenhouse gas inventories depends on accurate above-ground biomass measurements. Because of the limited availability of species-specific biomass estimation models, stakeholders are often compelled to use generic models. The present study critically assesses the performance of species-specific versus generic allometric equations for estimating above-ground biomass of selected bamboo species by validating model predictions against destructively measured values. The species used in the study were Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa balcooa, Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambusa nutans and Dendrocalamus stocksii. The relative error between the predicted and measured biomass for each species was calculated to assess the accuracy of the generic allometric models. Willmott's Index of Agreement was utilised to assess the variation between the estimated and measured biomass values. The results showed that species-specific equations give more accurate estimates of bamboo biomass, with consistently low relative errors. The findings clearly show that biomass models created at the species level, which integrate both diameter and height as predictive variables, yield more precise and reliable predictions.

• Binsiya et al