Welcome to Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology! Today is Share:

Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology

Previous Articles     Next Articles

A site index model for Larix principisrupprechtii plantation in Saihanba, north China.

WANG Dong-zhi1, ZHANG Dong-yan1,2, JIANG Feng-ling3, BAI Ye4, ZHANG Zhi-dong1, HUANG Xuan-rui1   

  1. (1College of Forestry, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, Hebei, China; 2College of Business, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, Hebei, China; 3College of Life Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, Hebei, China; 4Chengde Bureau of Environmental Protection of Hebei, Chengde 067000, Hebei, China)
  • Online:2015-11-18 Published:2015-11-18

Abstract: It is often difficult to estimate site indices for different types of plantation by using an ordinary site index model. The objective of this paper was to establish a site index model for plantations in varied site conditions, and assess the site qualities. In this study, a nonlinear mixed site index model was constructed based on data from the second class forest resources inventory and 173 temporary sample plots. The results showed that the main limiting factors for height growth of Larix principisrupprechtii were elevation, slope, soil thickness and soil type. A linear regression model was constructed for the main constraining site factors and dominant tree height, with the coefficient of determination being 0.912, and  the baseline age of  Larix principisrupprechtii determined as 20 years. The nonlinear mixed site index model parameters for the main site types were estimated (R2 >0.85, the error between the predicted value and the actual value was in the range of -0.43 to 0.45, with an average root mean squared error (RMSE) in the range of 0.907 to 1.148). The estimation error between the predicted value and the actual value of dominant tree height for the main site types was in the confidence interval of \[-0.95, 0.95\]. The site quality of the high altitude-shady-sandy loam-medium soil layer was the highest and that of low altitude-sunny-sandy loammedium soil layer was the lowest, while the other two sites were moderate.