Equations for biomass estimation of Tiquilia canescens (DC.) A. T. Richardson in desert shrublands
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v17i97.1637Keywords:
Chihuahuan desert, allometric equations, woody crinklemat, microphyllus scrub, rosette-forming scrub, linear modelsAbstract
Tiquilia canescens is a shrub found in the desert scrublands of northern Mexico; because it is so abundant, it may play an important role in carbon sequestration and storage. However, there are no allometric functions for estimating its biomass. The objective of this study was to design equations to estimate the aboveground, root and total biomass of T. canescens. Allometric measurements were taken on 49 plants found in desert scrublands in the Aldama and Coyame del Sotol municipalities, state of Chihuahua. The fit of the linear, linearized potential allometric, and linearized exponential models for predicting biomass was evaluated. Based on fit statistics such as higher adjusted R2 values and lower Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) values, the variables with the greatest predictive power for total biomass were the long crown diameter (LCD, 47.9±18.0 cm), the short basal stem diameter (SBSD, 20.3±11.7 mm), and the canopy cover (CC, 1 754.4±1,342.8 cm2). The linearized potential model provided the best fit (lower RMSE and higher Pseudo-R2). Cross-validation was performed to test the predictive power of the equations. The final equations for estimating the aboveground, root, and total biomass of T. canescens included only the LCD, and these equations were robust and reliable for use in the Chihuahuan Desert scrubs and ecologically similar sites in North-central Mexico.
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