Development and evaluation of robust tree biomass equations for rubber tree(Hevea brasiliensis)plantations in India

Biplab Brahma,Gudeta W.Sileshi,Arun JyotiNath*and Ashesh Kumar Das

Development and evaluation of robust tree biomass equations for rubber tree(Hevea brasiliensis)plantations in India

Biplab Brahma1,Gudeta W.Sileshi2,Arun JyotiNath1*and Ashesh Kumar Das1

Abstract

Background:In India,rubber(Hevea brasiliensis)plantations cover～0.8 million ha of land,emphasizing its significant role in the Earth’s carbon dynamics.Therefore,it is important to estimate the biomass stocks of plantations precisely in the context of carbon management.Previous studies in India have focused on development of allometric equations for estimating aboveground biomass(AGB)through harvesting younger trees(up to 14 yr)only or on studies with small sample sizes without assessing model bias.The objective of this study was to develop biomass estimation models for different tree components in rubber plantations and assess model predictive performance at the stand level.

Methods:A total of 67 trees were harvested from plantations of different ages(6,15,27 and 34 yr)in North East India and their diameter at 200 cm(D),height and dry weights of different tree components were recorded.The data were used for evaluation of H-D and biomass estimation models at the stand level.

Results:The Michaelis-Menten function was found to be the most appropriate model for estimating tree height among 10 commonly used H-D models.For estimation of AGB and coarse root biomass,a model that involves tree volume(i.e.D2H)was found to provide better prediction than either D or H alone or a model that combines H,D and stand density.The estimated AGB varied from 28 Mg·ha?1in 6 yr.old plantation to 169 Mg·ha?1in 34 yr.old plantations.The coarse root biomass was estimated at 4 Mg·ha?1for 6 yr.old plantation and 12 Mg·ha?1for 34 yr.old stands.

Conclusions:It is concluded that models involving tree volume are more appropriate for regional level biomass estimation than simple power-law models for individual stands.We recommend that the power-law model should not be used for estimation of AGB in plantations at different growth stages because power-law parameters can be biased due to data truncation.

Keywords:Aboveground biomass,Data truncation,Michaelis-Menten function,Power-law

Background

Accurate biomass estimation of plantations and natural forests is a prerequisite for establishing regional carbon inventory datasets.Tree biomass may be estimated through destructive harvesting or non-harvest methods(Brown 1997).In the case of the non-destructively approach available generalized models are often used for estimating biomass in forests,agroforestry and plantation forestry(Brown and Schroeder 1999;Chave et al.2001;Houghton et al.2001).However,due to variations in plant architectures and complexity in associations of trees,biomass estimation through generalized models is fraught with errors(Ter-Mikaelian and Korzukhin 1997;Shepashenko et al.1998;Brown and Schroeder 1999;De Oliveira and Mori 1999).Generalized models have often been used without consideration of the tree age or plantation age.Tree age is an important factor that influences biomass accumulation(Fatemi et al.2011),suggesting the need for age-specific biomass models for precise estimation.

Rubber tree plantations are managed throughout the tropical worlds due to their significant economic value(Fox et al.2012)and each plantation is managed underhomogeneous age series up to maximum of 40 yr.(Brahma et al.2016).In India,0.8 million ha of land is currently under rubber plantation and the annual increase in acreage is 3%(The Rubber Board 2013).Although rubber plantations cover a vast land area in India,appropriate biomass estimation models are still lacking.The available models were either developed by harvesting younger trees(Chaudhuri et al.1995;Dey et al.1996)or limited to a very small sample size(Dey et al.1996).The need for developing models covering a wide range of tree ages is important because the shape of the relationships between tree variables change along the stage of development.The variations in biomass stocks in rubber plantations with plantation age have been demonstrated(Tang et al.2009).All these raise concerns about the applicability of available models for future biomass estimation in India.Therefore,the objective of this study was to develop biomass estimation models for different tree components in rubber plantations and assess model predictive performance at the stand level.

Methods

Study site

The present study was carried out in Karimganj District of Assam(24°36′N,92°23′E),North East India(NEI)within the range of Himalayan foothills and Barak river basins.Karimganj is an administrative district of the State of Assam,which occupies an area of 1809 km2.It is bounded on the Northeast by Cachar District,on the east by Hilakandi,on the south by Mizoram,on the southwest by Tripura State and on the west and northwest by Bangladesh.The edge to edge distance between the selected stands for different ages were measured approximately as 200–300 m.Generally,the soils of the region are classified as the Barak series,which is fine,hyperthermic family of Aeric Endoaquepts(USDA 1998).The soil characteristics of the study site did not vary from stand to stand.Mean annual precipitation of the study area is about 3538 mm,temperature ranges from 13 °C to 37 °C with average relative humidity of 93.5%(Regional Agricultural Research Institute 2013).

Stand selection,sampling and biomass analysis

The main criterion for selecting the specific plantation was the age of the stand.Age of the plantation was evaluated and confirmed from the official plantation record.Rubber plantations of four different ages,i.e.6,15,27 and 34 yrs.,were selected for this study on the basis of the availability of the stands under same age.Ten plots measuring 25 m×25 m area were selected randomly from each of the different aged plantations and all trees were counted for estimation of tree density.All the trees within the selected area were counted and measured at circumference at 200 cm(C200)above the ground to avoid the tapping artefacts.When collecting the latex from rubber trees,tapping on the stems is commonly done between stem heights of 150 and 180 cm.Regular tapping resulted in significant deformations on the stem.Therefore,instead of following the recommended height to measure the stem circumference,here the stem height at 200 cm was considered.We acknowledge that this can lead to a systematic underestimation of diameter at breast height(DBH).Standard procedures were followed during the circumference measurement of each tree(Husch et al.2003).The measured C200 values across the ages ranged between 10 and 110 cm,which were further divided into 10 cm classes.Five to six C200 classes were considered for each stand.Based on the availability of trees in these C200 classes,a total of 67 trees of different ages(15,19,15,and 18 for 6,15,27 and 34 yrs.,respectively)were felled.Total height(H)of each harvested tree was measured to use as a covariate in biomass model development.Here the main support to the branches from ground level to the top of the felled tree was considered as stem.In order to avoid the ambiguity of branch and stem at the fork,the higher circumference was considered as the stem.Different tree parts including foliage,branch and stems were separated and fresh weight(fw)in kg was measured in the field.For belowground biomass,coarse roots(＞2.5 mm diameter)were extracted from a 1 m radius with 1 m depth around the felled tree stem.Fine root biomass could not be estimated due to difficulties in separation of fine roots from the soil.Fresh weights of extracted coarse roots were weighed after carefully removing the soil.Sub-samples of each tree part were taken to the laboratory and subsamples were oven dried at 70°C for a minimum of 72 h or until the constant dry weight was achieved.Fresh weight and dry weight(dw)ratios(Rdw/fw)for each plant part were calculated to get their respective total part dry weight(PDW)as PDW=(Rdw/fw×fresh weight of the plant part).Total dry weight or total biomass of the tree was estimated by adding all the calculated PDW of that tree.

Biomass model development

Use of different independent variables for developing biomass models are still a subject of empirical debate(Sileshi 2014).Diameter at breast height(D)and total tree height(H)have been used widely for modelling scaling relationships between tree biomass components,H and DBH assuming different physical and biological first principles(Sileshi 2014).In this study first we developed the relationship between D200(here after D)and H as well as biomass components with D,H and stand density(StD).First we explored the appropriateness of a simple power-law relationship between AGB,D and H.This is because power-law scaling is supported by emergent theories of macroecology and thus recommended in biomass estimation to reduce the ambiguity about allometric relationships(Sileshi 2014,2015).Initially we also explored the use of stand age as a covariate.However,we found stand age to be inappropriate due statistical complications such as collinearity that arise when combined with D and H.In addition,we explored standlevel variables especially stand density(StD)as a biological meaningful and potentially more predictive variable than stand age.Finally,we compared the performance of the power-law model with three other models involving D alone,H alone and their combination with StD.When fitting the models,log transformed biomass data were linearly regressed against the log transformed values of D,H,D2H and DHStD as follows:

ln(Y)=ln(α)+ β(lnD)+ ε Model 1

ln(Y)=ln(α)+ β(lnD2H)+ ε Model 2

ln(AGB)=ln(α)+ β(lnH)+ ε Model 3

ln(Y)=ln(α)+ β(lnDHStD)+ ε Model 4

In addition,we explored the relationship between coarse root dry weight(RDW)and AGB using the power-law model specified as follows:

ln(RDW)=ln(α)+ β(lnAGB)+ ε Model 5

where Y is the biomass component(e.g.foliage,branch,stem,root,etc.)being modelled,D2H is tree volume,and ε is the error.These models were fitted using ordinary least square regression assuming a power function with multiplicative error structure(Lai et al.2013;Dong et al.2016).For estimating biomass components in the arithmetic domain,the equations were back-transformed to give Y= αXβ× CF where X is the single or compound variables,αXβ=exp.(α + β(lnX)and CF is the correction factor calculated from the mean square of error(MSE)as exp.(MSE/2)(Sileshi 2015).

In the absence of measured tree height,the H in model 2 may be estimated using height-diameter(H-D)models.This is a convenient approach because data on tree height are relatively more difficult and time consuming to obtain than D.H-D models can also be used to predict missing heights from field measurement of tree diameter.The commonly used H-D models include Chapman-Richard,exponential,Gompertz,hyperbolic,logistic,Michaelis-Menten(saturation growth),monomolecular,power-law,Richard and Weibull functions(Zeide 1993;Huang et al.2000).The models are also applied to estimate the asymptotic height,which is often used as a measure of tree size(Thomas 1996).In order to determine the appropriate H-D relationship in rubber trees we compared the following models:

Chapman-Richards H=a(1? exp(?bD))c

Exponential H=a ? b(exp(?cD))

Gompertz H=a(exp(?exp(b?cD)))

These models were chosen because they are supported by theory and their parameters have biologically meaningful interpretations.For example,in all models except the power-law,the parameter a represents the asymptotic height of trees.Nonlinear regression was used to estimate parameters of all H-D models.

The performance of all these models was compared using the coefficient of determination(R2),Akaike information criterion(AIC),and root mean square of error(RMSE)(Sileshi 2014).In all cases the small sample approximation of AIC(i.e.AICc)was used for comparing models.In addition,we checked the normality of residuals by plotting the residuals against the predictor values and the Shapiro-Wilk test.Finally,we compared the 95%confidence intervals(CI)of the slopes to see whether the corresponding model for different age classes is significantly different or not(Sileshi 2014,2015).

Using the best model developed through the steps described above,biomass stocks in plantations of different ages was estimated by using the following formula:

Biomass density (Mg·ha?1) = N ×(B1+B2+B3+…+Bn)/n

where N is the tree density,n is the number of harvested trees and Biis the AGB stock(kg)of the respective tree.

Results

Biomass estimation models

Tree density ranged from 784 trees·ha?1in 6 yr.old plantations to 576 trees·ha?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Table 1).Stem diameter and tree height also significantly(P＜0.0001)varied with stand age.Tree diameter ranged from 11 to 35 cm in 6 and 34 yr.old plantations,respectively(Table 1).

A strong non-linear relationship was observed between stem height(H)and diameter at 200 cm(D)in all the stand ages(Fig.1;Table 2).Among the H-D models compared,the Michaelis-Menten function had the smallest AIC and RMSE and the largest pseudo R2.The second best model was the power-law model,while the worst was the hyperbolic function.The differences in terms of model goodness of fit criteria(pseudo R2,AIC and RMSE)among the models except the hyperbolic were marginal(Table 3).However,the 95%confidence limits of the estimated asymptotic heights reveal significant differences among the models.Some of the models(e.g.Weibull and Richard functions)had four parameters and hence are

complicated or fail to converge.For practical purposes,the following two models were chosen for estimating H in the absence of measured height:

Table 1 Average tree density,stem diameter at 200 cm,height(cm)and aboveground biomass(AGB),coarse root biomass and total biomass stocks estimated using the best model(Model 2)in different ages of rubber plantation in North East India

Fig.1 Relationship between tree height(H)and diameter(D)in different aged stands(a–d)and generalized across plantation ages(e).Parameters of the fitted lines(power-law)are presented in Table 2

Table 2 Parameter estimates and model fit criteria for ten different height-diameter(H-D)models

Examination of the confidence limit of the slopes of the age-specific models(Table 3)indicated that slopes for ages 6 and 34 yr.are not significantly different from the slopes of the models generalized across all age classes.Due to this and the small sample size for individual ages,equations that are generalized across all age classes were developed and tested.Based on the higher R2and lower AIC and RMSE,Model 2 and 4 were found to be more appropriate for AGB,stem,coarse root and total dry weight than Model 1 and 3(Table 4).On the other hand,the power-law model was more appropriate for foliage and branch biomass.Therefore,the following models were proposed for estimation of AGB,foliage,branch,stem,coarse root(RDW)and total biomass components:

AGB=(exp(?3.31+0.95(lnD2H)))× 1.02

Foliage=(exp(?4.41+1.87(lnD))× 1.25

Branch=(exp(× 2.76+2.07(lnD))×1.20

Stem=(exp(?4.57+1.05(lnD2H)))× 1.03

RDW=(exp(?0.53+0.64(lnAGB))× 1.03

Total=(exp(?2.84+0.90(lnD2H)))× 1.02

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In addition,RDW could be estimated using model 2 as RDW=(exp(?2.64+0.60(lnD2H)))× 1.04.However,in terms of goodness of fit criteria,Model 5 was only slightly better than Model 2 and Model 4(Table 4).

Table 3 Parametersaand model fit statistics for the age-specific models of aboveground biomass(AGB).For ease of comparing slopes(β)the 95%confidence limits were presented

Variation in tree biomass components

The measured and estimated biomass components significantly varied with stand age(Fig.2).However,the measured biomass components were not significantly different from the estimated biomass in all plantation ages.The exception was branch dry weight at 34 yr.,where the estimated branch dry weight was higher than the measured dry weight.Measured total aboveground(AGB)dry weight increased from 35.4 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.plantations to 288.5 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Fig.2a).However,using different models the estimated total AGB for all the ages are given in Fig.3.Measured foliage dry weight increased from 3 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.old plantations to 5 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations,butfoliage biomass in 6 yr.plantations did not significantly differ from those in 27 yr.plantations(Fig.2b).Measured branch dry weight increased from 11 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.plantations to 43 kg·tree?1in 27 yr.old plantations and then decreased to 35 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Fig.2c).Measured stem dry weight increased from 21 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.plantations to 249 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Fig.2d).Similarly,coarse root dry weight increased from 5.4 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.plantations to 19 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Fig.2e).The coarse root biomass estimated using the three models also did not significantly differ(Fig.4).However,estimating coarse root biomass from AGB(Model 5)was superior to other models in terms of goodness of fit criteria(Table 4)and normality of residuals(Fig.4c).Total dry weight of all components increased from 40 kg·tree?1in 6 yr.old plantations to 307 kg·tree?1in 34 yr.old plantations(Fig.2e).In terms of the mean absolute percentage error(MAPE),AGB,total biomass and stem biomass were estimated with less error(MAPE＜20%)compared to coarse root dry weight(MAPE=21%).Branch dry weight(MAPE=80%)and foliage dry weight(MAPE=83%)were poorly estimated.Foliage dry weight was underestimated in 6 yr.old plantations compared to the measured(Fig.2b),while stem dry weight was severely overestimated in 34 yr.old plantations.

The estimated AGB stocks(Mg·ha?1)were 29,119,116 and 169 Mg·ha?1for 6,15,27 and 34 yr.old plantations,respectively(Table 1).The coarse root biomass was estimated at 4 Mg·ha?1for 6 yr.old plantations and 12 Mg·ha?1for 34 yr.old plantations.Similarly,total biomass(excluding fine roots)was estimated at 32 Mg·ha?1at 6 yr.and 168 Mg·ha?1at 34 yr.old plantations(Table 1).

Table 4 Parameters and goodness of fit statistics for the various models used in estimating biomass components combining all stand ages

Discussion

The average stand density of rubber plantations declined from 784 trees·ha?1in 6 yr.old plantations to 576 in 34 yr.old plantations.Since,a common plant spacing of3 m×4 m was maintained during the initial plantation stage,the results indicate that the number of trees in plantation decreased by about 26%with the increase in stand age.This implies that plantation density reduced at 0.95%per annum,and this is comparable with the 1.5%reduction reported from Sri Lanka(Munasinghe et al.2014).This is consistent with predictions of Yoda’s law(Yoda et al.1963)and the stand density rule of Reineke(Reineke 1933).

Fig.2 Variation in measured and estimated tree biomass components with plantation age.Parameters of the best model in Table 4 were used for estimating the specific biomass component.The measured and estimated biomass components are deemed significantly different from each other only if their confidence limits do not overlap

From the H-D models it is evident that the Michaelis-Menten and power-law models are adequate,while the gain in explanatory power from the other models was minimal.Therefore,in the absence of measured tree height,H estimated using the Michaelis-Menten function can be used to estimate tree volume.The results also suggest that AGB can be estimated more accurately using models consisting of compound variables of D and H.The power-law model(Model 1)was slightly poorer in terms of goodness of fit criteria.The poor performance of the power-law model could be attributed to data truncation(Sileshi 2015),which is evident in Fig.1.Data truncation can occurs either due to sampling that only includes those individuals whose size lies within a certain interval or when equations are fitted to a restricted segment of the size range.Data are said to be left truncated when the lower segment of the population has been left out,whereas right-truncation results from leaving out the upper segment.Sileshi(2015)has demonstrated that the allometry exponent can be highly biased when the power-law equation is fitted to a restricted segment of the size range or different life stages of a species.In the different plantation ages except at 6 yr.,data are evidently left truncated,i.e.the lower segment of thepopulation has been left out.Left-truncation of data tends to raise the allometry intercept and as a result shrink the slope(Sileshi 2015).On the other hand,Model 2 slopes did not significantly differ from each other except at plantation age of 15.As the models for all ages were developed from a larger dataset,they may be less sensitive to change in age and hence may be used for future AGB estimations of 6,27 and 34 yrs.old plantations.

Fig.3 Fitted lines of the models used for above-ground biomass(AGB)and plots of the residuals against observed values for rubber plantations of all ages.Parameters of the fitted lines are presented in Table 4

Among the models compared,the model that contains tree volume had higher predictive power for AGB and total tree biomass.This is consistent with the general observation that AGB increases with bole volume in woody species(Chave et al.2005).Although the use of fewer explanatory variables are recommended for ease in model application and validation(Sileshi 2014),in the present study D and H were directly measured and therefore could be applied for biomass estimation.

In this study the focus was on the aboveground living biomass and coarse roots(excluding fine roots)of trees since these components account for the largest percentage of the sequestered carbon within a forest ecosystem(Kongsager et al.2013).Root biomass is difficult to measure in most conditions.Therefore,we recommend direct estimation of coarse root biomass from measured AGB assuming a power-law relationship between root biomass and AGB(i.e.Model 5).This assumption is reasonable because allometry theory and empirical observations have demonstrated near-isometric relationshipsbetween aboveground and belowground biomass of trees(Cheng and Niklas 2007;Hui et al.2014).

Fig.4 Fitted lines of the models used for coarse root dry weight(RDW)and plots of the residuals against observed values for rubber plantations of all ages.Parameters of the fitted lines are presented in Table 4

The estimated AGB stocks(Mg·ha?1)for 6 and 15 yrs.old rubber trees are comparable with values(56 and 248 kg·tree?1)reported from Brazil(Maggiotto et al.2014).AGB estimates for 27 and 34 yr.old plantations are 25 and 50%lower than the estimated total biomass for 25 and 38 yr.old rubber plantations from China(Tang et al.2009;Yang et al.2014).These differences could be related to differences in planting density,growth habitat and management practices(Yang et al.2014).Moreover,total biomass stocks of 5 to 40 yrs.old rubber plantations from the same region were reported to be 32 to 211 Mg·ha?1(Brahma et al.2016).Similar to the present study the AGB stock in rubber plantations increased with increase in plantation age(Chaudhuri et al.1995;Dey et al.1996;Yang et al.2005;Tang et al.2009;Corpuz et al.2014;Maggiotto et al.2014;Brahma et al.2016).

Conclusions

It is concluded that models involving tree volume are more appropriate for regional level biomass estimation than simple models for individual stands.We recommend that the power-law model should not be used for estimation of AGB of plantations at different growth stages because power-law parameters can be biased due to data truncation.Our study suggests that the model generalizing all the ages can be used irrespective of the age of the stand.In the absence of measured height,we recommend the Michaelis-Menten model for estimating height.One of the limitations of this study is the relatively small sample size for developing age-specific models.Another limitation is our inability to sample total belowground biomass due to resource constraints to collect fine roots.We recommend that future studies tackle these issues.

Additional file

Additional file 1:Dataset for biomass stock of rubber plantations.(XLS 34 kb)

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the owners(Mr.Goutam Nandi and Mr.Kabir Uddin Ahmed)of the Hevea plantations for allowing us to harvest requirednumber of trees from their plantations.We also sincerely thank DST,GOI for funding(DST/IS-STAC/CO2-SR-224/14(c)-AICP-AFOLU-1).

Availability of data and materials

Raw data is available in the Additional file 1.

Authors’contributions

BB and AJN formulated the idea and design sampling method.AJN and AKD supervised the study.BB collected field data.BB and SWG performed data analyses.All authors reviewed and revised the manuscript.All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author details

1Department of Ecology andEnvironmental Science,Assam University,Silchar,Assam 788011,India.2Plot 1244 Ibex Hill,Lusaka,Zambia.

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*Correspondence:arunjyotinath@gmail.com

1Department of Ecology and Environmental Science,Assam University,Silchar,Assam 788011,India

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Received:11 May 2017 Accepted:8 August 2017