Abstract

(Introduction):  Assessing biomass and model development is key in determining the mitigation potential of climate change in forest ecosystems. Forests planted year after year occupy a greater area and are becoming more relevant for carbon storage; however, there is little information about biomass and carbon quantification for the diversity of species, sites, and management degree.

(Objective):  The objective of the study was to evaluate the biomass of the different tree components (leaves, branches, stem, root).

(Methodology):  The study used the destructive and indirect method to build predictive models of biomass and carbon for the different tree components. Models were developed with the ordinary least squares method using the normal diameter as a predictor variable.

(Results):  These equations explained more than 92 % of the variability observed in biomass and carbon, with errors of the estimates below 8.5 %, except for carbon in leaves, which had less adjustment (R² = 78.2) and greater error (10.9 %). Stem represented 65.6 % of the tree's total biomass, with 37 % dry matter and 0.48 carbon fraction.

(Conclusions):   Foliage contribution to total tree biomass and carbon is minimal; consequently, allocating time and resources to evaluate this component should be well justified. The models chosen are very practical to use because they only require the diameter as a predictor variable.

Keywords: Allometry; climate change; genetic improvement; Gmelina arborea; reforestation