Part of this software was created within the project TJ02000202 from the ZETA programme, funded by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Authors: Matula R., at al., PLoS ONE, 2015
Abstract: Resprouting multi-stemmed woody plants form an important component of the woody vegetation in many ecosystems, but a clear methodology for reliable measurement of their size and quick, non-destructive estimation of their woody biomass and carbon stock is lacking. Our goal was to find a minimum number of sprouts, i.e., the most easily obtainable, and sprout parameters that should be measured for accurate sprout biomass and carbon stock estimates. Using data for 5 common temperate woody species, we modelled carbon stock and sprout biomass as a function of an increasing number of sprouts in an interaction with different sprout parameters. The mean basal diameter of only two to five of the thickest sprouts and the basal diameter and DBH of the thickest sprouts per stump proved to be accurate estimators for the total sprout biomass of the individual resprouters and the populations of resprouters, respectively. Carbon stock estimates were strongly correlated with biomass estimates, but relative carbon content varied among species. Our study demonstrated that the size of the resprouters can be easily measured, and their biomass and carbon stock estimated; therefore, resprouters can be simply incorporated into studies of woody vegetation.
Authors: Šrámek M., at al., Trees, 2020
Abstract: Traditional coppicing is one of the oldest silvicultural systems for biomass production. However, a quick and simple biomass estimate methodology across the entire growth period is lacking. The objective of this study was to find the sprout parameters that need to be measured for accurate sprout estimates as well as to find a necessary minimum number of sprouts for these estimates. Using data from 20 sample Turkey oak multi-stem trees, we modelled sprout biomass as a function of an increasing number of sprouts in interaction with different sprout parameters in a later post-resprouting period. Results showed that the DBH of only two of the largest sprouts per stump proved to be accurate estimators of the total sprout biomass of the individual stool. For sprout biomass estimates at stand level, we recommend measuring the DBH of the largest sprout within each stool in a plot and then calculating and summing the estimated sprout biomasses of the individual stools. This study illustrates that the biomass can simply be estimated by easily measured parameters of sprouts; therefore, the multi-stemmed trees can be easily included into the yield or ecosystem studies of woody vegetation with less time consuming measurements.
Authors: Šrámek M., at al., iForest, 2023
Abstract: Knowledge of the quantity of woody biomass of poplar short-rotation coppice (SRC) on agricultural land is a basic tool for management decisions like rotation length, volume production and the financial balance sheet of economic activities. The expansion of SRC requires a fast, reliable, easily applicable and cheap method for estimating the biomass yield, but existing methods are based on labour-demanding and lengthy measurements of all shoots per tree. The objective of this study was to verify a novel rapid biomass estimation method that uses averaged attributes of only a few largest shoots as a predictor variable for woody biomass in a poplar SRC, hybrid clone J-105 (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii). Using data from 39 sample stumps with 187 shoots in total, we modelled shoot biomass as a function of an increasing number of shoots in interaction with different shoot parameters at two poplar SRC plantations. Results showed that the DBH of only three of the largest shoots per stump proved to be accurate estimators of the total shoot biomass of the individual stump. Comparison of biomass estimates at the stand level with a real amount of biomass indicated differences between 6-14%, depending on the site.