Allometric Models to Estimate Aboveground Biomass of Individual Trees of Eucalyptus saligna Sm in Young Plantations in Ecuador
(1) Background: Nature-based solutions (NbS), particularly through forest biomass, are crucial in mitigating climate change. While forest plantations play a critical role in carbon capture, the absence of species-specific biomass estimation models presents a significant challenge. This research focuses on developing allometric models to accurately estimate the aboveground biomass of Eucalyptus saligna Sm in Ecuador’s Lower Montane thorny steppe. (2) Methods: Conducted at the Tunshi Experimental Station of ESPOCH in Chimborazo, Ecuador, the research involved 46 trees to formulate biomass predictive models using both destructive and non-destructive methods. Sixteen generic models were tested using the ordinary least squares method. (3) Results: The most effective allometric equation for estimating six-year-old E. saligna biomass was Ln(B) = −0.952 + 1.97∗Ln(dbh), where B = biomass in kg/tree, and dbh = diameter at breast height in cm. This model represents a valuable contribution to improve biomass and carbon estimates in mitigation projects in Ecuador. (4) Conclusions: The tested models stand out for their simplicity, requiring only dbh as input, and demonstrate high accuracy and fit to contribute to the field of climate change mitigation.
Authors
- José Fernando Esparza Parra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0483-6433)
- Milena Segura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4813-1224)
- Hernán J. Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3398-294X)
- Roy Vera-Vélez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4716-4390)
- Jorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8301-531X)
- Raúl Armando Ramos Veintimilla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5181-1039)
- Pedro Panama-Perugachi
Institutions
- Central University of Ecuador (EC)
- University of Tolima (CO)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Universidad de Otavalo (EC)
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (FR)
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo (EC)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Plant Biology
- Published
- 2025-03-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb16020039
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Forest ecology and management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.31