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In this study, models for the tree total height have been developed for brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) stands in southwestern Turkey. For this purpose, 52 sample plots were measured. A total of 36 models that estimate the relationship between height and diameter in terms of stand variables (i.e. basal area, quadratic mean diameter, maximum diameter, dominant diameter, dominant height, arithmetic mean height, age, number of trees per hectare and site index), were fitted to correspond to 766 trees for non-linear regression procedures. Comparison of the models was carried out by using mean absolute error (MAE), maximum absolute error (MaxAE), root mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficients (R), mean error (Bias) and the Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The most successful model among the 36 height-diameter models used was the Cox IIa model. This model was followed by Cox IIb and Sharma & Parton, respectively. As a result, the suggested model improves the accuracy of height prediction, ensures compatibility among the various estimates in a growth and yield model, and maintains projections within reasonable biological limits. Examples of applications of the selected generalized diameter-height models to the forest management are presented, namely how to use it to complete missing information from forest inventory and also showing how such an equation can be incorporated in a stand-level decision support system that aims to optimize the forest management for the maximization of wood volume production in southwestern Turkey brutian pine stands. |
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