Developing allometric equations for estimating leaf area and leaf biomass of Artocarpus chaplasha in Raghunandan Hill Reserve, Bangladesh

Abstract

Estimation of leaf area (LA) and leaf biomass (LB) is important to understand plant physiological and carbon assimilation processes, and tree growth models. The aim of this study was to develop and compare allometric equations for predicting LA and LB of Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. taking diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height as predictors. Data of tree parameters were collected randomly from 200 healthy and well-formed trees. Among all the models developed, models I and IX were based on only a single predictor of DBH and showed more statistical accuracy. Both models were also validated with a distinct data set having the same range of DBH and tree height of the previous data set on the basis of linear regression and t-test for mean difference between observed and predicted LA and LB. These models produced a range of prediction values closer to the upper and lower limits of the observed mean values and suggest their application for LA and LB estimation of A. chaplasha in this region.