Allometric equation for estimating tree above ground biomass modified by ecological environmental factors in tropical dipterocarp forests

Tropical Dipterocarp Forest (DF) plays an important role in mitigating climate change thanks to its carbon sequestration capacity. In order to estimate the CO2 absorption capacity of DF as a basis for the development of forest ecological services, a system of biomass equations is needed; while very few models for estimating biomass in DF have been published and have not yet reflected the impact of ecological environmental factors. The purpose of the study was to validate and select the best model for estimating tree above ground biomass (AGB, kg) in DF under the influence of ecological environmental factors, thereby improving the reliability. Twenty-eight 0.25 ha plots in the Central Highlands and one 1 ha plot in the Southeast ecoregion in Viet Nam were measured. A total of 329 trees were destructively sampled to obtain a dataset of AGB; Methods for developing equations were weighted nonlinear fixed/mixed models with/without random effects fit by Maximum Likelihood; Using K-fold cross validation with K = 10, we compared and selected the best model with and without ecological environmental factors. As a result, separate ecological environmental factors did not affect AGB, while the combination of the factors influences the AGB model through the form: AGB = AVERAGE × MODIFIER, AGB = a × Db ×WDd × exp (e2 × (P - 1502) + e3 × (BA - 12.62)) that was significantly more reliable than a model without these factors involved; where D (cm), WD (g / cm3), P (mm year-1) and BA (m2 ha-1) are the diameter at breast height, wood density, averaged annual rainfall and total basal area of forest stand, respectively. Keywords: above ground biomass, dipterocarp forest, ecological factor ID: 3473259