Allometric biomass, nutrient and carbon stock models for Kandelia candel of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh
Hossain, M; Saha, C; Abdullah, SMR; Saha, S; Siddique, MRH
Present study recommends DBH as independent variable of the derived allometric models and Biomass = a + b DBH (2) has been selected for total above-ground biomass, nutrients and carbon stock.
Kandelia candel (L.) Druce is a shrub to small tree of the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to derive the allometric models for estimating above-ground biomass, nutrient and carbon stock in K. candel. A total of eight linear models with 64 regression equations were tested to derive the allometric models for biomass of each part of plant; and nutrients and carbon stock in total above-ground biomass. The best fitted allometric models were selected by considering the values of R (2), CV, R (mse), MSerror, S (a), S (b), F value, AICc and Furnival Index. The selected allometric models were Biomass = 0.014 DBH2 + 0.03; aeBiomass = 0.29 DBH - 0.21; aeBiomass = 0.66 aeDBH - 0.57; aeBiomass = 1.19 aeDBH - 1.02; Biomass = 0.21 DBH2 + 0.12 for leaves, branches, bark, stem without bark and total above-ground biomass, respectively. The selected allometric models for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Carbon stock in total above-ground biomass were N = 0.39 DBH2 + 0.49, P = 0.77 DBH2 + 0.14, K = 0.87 DBH2 + 0.07 and C = 0.09 DBH2 + 0.05, respectively. The derived allometric models have included DBH as a single independent variable, which may give quick and accurate estimation of the above-ground biomass, nutrient and carbon stock in this species. This information may also contribute to a broader study of nutrient cycling, nutrient budgeting and carbon sequestration of the studied forest.