Canadian Forest Service Publications
Evaluating sampling designs and deriving biomass equations for young plantations of poplar and willow clones. 2015. Lupi, C.; Larocque, G.; DesRochers, A.; Labrecque, M.; Mosseler, A.; Major, J.; Beaulieu, J.; Tremblay, F.; Gordon, A.M.; Thomas, B.R.; Vézina, A.; Bouafif, H.; Cormier, D.; Sidders, D.; Krygier, R.; Thevathasan, N.; Riopel, M.; Ferland-Raymond, B. Biomass Bioenergy 83:196-205.
Year: 2015
Issued by: Laurentian Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 36350
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.09.019
† This site may require a fee
Abstract
Short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) for bioenergy production is at its pre-commercial stage in Canada. To be economically viable, these types of plantations need an accurate examination of actual yields, which requires precise and efficient estimation methods (i.e., specific allometric equations and sampling methods). At six SRIC plantations from three Canadian provinces (Quebec, Ontario and Alberta), 6 willow and 10 poplar clones were sampled and clone allometric equations were developed to estimate plant biomass. A stem selection approach was successfully used to develop plant allometric equations, reducing the number of stems to be measured by up to 81% in coppiced plantations relative to traditional stem equations. Clone-specific equations were more accurate than equations for groups of clones, but the difference in terms of RMSE% was generally small (less than 5%). Using extensive measurements of all the plants inside a plantation and a simulation approach, we also compared five sampling methods (simple random sampling, stratified sampling, systematic sampling, random and systematic cluster sampling) to estimate total biomass inside the plantation. Simple random sampling and stratified random sampling were the most efficient methods (i.e., increased precision for equal sample size) for the estimation of average plant biomass, survival and total plantation biomass. Stratified random sampling (based on the position inside the plantation) made it possible to reduce the sample size as compared to simple random sampling, but only at higher levels of precision (e.g., 25 less plants at 5% precision). Applications of sampling using remote sensing techniques and GIS are briefly discussed.
Plain Language Summary
In this study, the researchers developed equations to predict the quantity of biomass present in young willow and hybrid poplar plantations. These predictions use the heights and diameters of a certain number of stems based on a procedure that varies according to species. The researchers also defined the best sampling method for these types of stands.
The results of the study will make it easier to determine the quantity of biomass contained in willow or hybrid poplar plantations that can be used to produce bioenergy. This information will be useful for short-rotation intensive culture, which is currently being developed in Canada, particularly to estimate its costs and advantages.
