Estimation of aerial biomass of dry forest species from north of Bahia State, Brazil

Abstract

Allometric equations were developed for estimating individual plant biomass for ten species in an area of dry forest in northern of Bahia State, Brazil in the medium-lower São Francisco Basin, in Casa Nova and Remanso Counties. Fifteen individuals were sampled for each species  , except for Chamaecrista belemii, that had 30 sampled individuals . The assessed models were those proposed in the literature and constructed by the forward and backward methods, adjusted on the soil level diameter (SLD) and total height (H) for each plant. It was obtained equations for estimating the aerial biomass for individual trees of Byrsonima gardneriana, Cenostigma macrophyllum, Chamaecrista belemii, Copaifera coriacea, Maytenus rigida, Ruprechtia glauca, Strychno srubiginosa and Xymenia americana. It was also built general equations, considering all species, for estimating the total aerial biomass by individual tree and diameter classes. The results reinforce the necessity to improve indirect methods of biomass estimation and the development of equations segmented by diameter classes.