Modelling the top-height growth and site index of Norway spruce in Southern Belgium

[en] Top-height growth in even-aged stands of Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) from Southern Belgium was modelled using functions which provide an algebraic solution for site index (SI) calculation. 16 well known growth model formulations were parameterized using a method which accounts for heterogeneous variance and autocorrelation on a dataset composed of stem analysis data completed by measuring the heights of all the branch whorls to allow for accurate height–age estimates. Comparison of the parameterized models showed that the oblique asymptotic function known as the Duplat and Tran-Ha III model was the most efficient on our dataset. Validation of the selected model on permanent sample plot data showed no evidence of bias over the full range of possible age, height, site index and densities encountered in Norway spruce stands of Southern Belgium. The new height growth model described represents a significant improvement over the previous model of Dagnelie et al. (1988), which was found to be unreliable and required the use of an iterative process to estimate SI.

Research center :

University of Liège - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech - Unit of Forest and Nature Management

Disciplines :

Phytobiology (plant sciences, forestry, mycology...)

Author, co-author :

Perin, Jérôme ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Hebert, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Brostaux, Yves ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Sciences agronomiques > Statistique, Inform. et Mathém. appliquée à la bioingénierie

Lejeune, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Claessens, Hugues ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Language :

English

Title :

Modelling the top-height growth and site index of Norway spruce in Southern Belgium

Publication date :

15 June 2013

Journal title :

Forest Ecology and Management

ISSN :

0378-1127

eISSN :

1872-7042

Publisher :

Elsevier Science

Volume :

298

Pages :

62-70

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112713001473

Name of the research project :

Accord cadre de recherche et vulgarisation forestières: ACTION 2.2.1. - CROISSANCE, PRODUCTIVITE ET SYLVICULTURE DU DOUGLAS, DE L'EPICEA COMMUN ET DES MELEZES

Funders :

SPW DNF - Service Public de Wallonie. Département de la Nature et des Forêts [BE]

Available on ORBi :

since 28 May 2013

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