A Method for the Development of Dynamic Site Index Models Using Height–Age Data from Temporal Sample Plots

• Main Authors: Jarosław Socha, Luiza Tymińska-Czabańska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Forests
• Subjects: height growth; GADA; site productivity; Scots pine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/7/542

Knowledge of the potential productivity of forest sites is fundamental for making strategic decisions in forest management. Site productivity is usually evaluated using the site index, and therefore the development of site index models is one of the crucial tasks in forest research and forest management. This research aims to develop an effective method for building top-growth and site index models using data from temporary sample plots (TSP). Exploiting the advantages of the generalised algebraic difference approach (GADA), the proposed method overcomes the limitations of the guide curve method that has been to date used in site index modelling using TSPs data and allows to obtain only a set of anamorphic site index curves. The proposed approach enables the construction of dynamic site index models with polymorphism and variable asymptotes. Such models better reflect local, site-specific height growth trajectories and therefore allow more appropriate site index estimation. We tested the proposed method using data collected from 5105 temporary sample plots in Poland. Our results indicate that growth trend estimates using height−age measurements of TSPs may be valuable data for modelling top height growth. For these reasons, the proposed method can be very useful in forest management.