Abstract:
In Ethiopia, smallholder farmers commonly grow eucalyptus plantations in their farmland and
other communal areas for short-rotation harvests (4–5 years). Eucalyptus trees are rapidly
expanding in the central highlands of Ethiopia and in the Amahara region. It gives
socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological benefits. The expansion and socioeconomic
value of Eucalyptus plantations have been studied in the study area. Hence, this study was
conducted to develop a species-specific allometric model to estimate the aboveground biomass
of this smallholder plantation using the destructive method. The sample design was applied
using both purposive and simple random sampling techniques. A total of 60 trees with
diameters at breast height ranging from 2.1 to 12.6 cm were randomly harvested and
separated into tree components (stem, branch, leaf, and twigs) weighted in the field and in the
laboratory for sample dry and fresh weight analysis. Model development was done using 75%
of the total data set, whereas the remaining 25% was used for model validation. Eight
different above-ground equations and three height prediction equations were developed and
tested. Diameter at the breast height, total height, and woody density were used as predictor’s
variables, whereas aboveground biomass is a dependent variable. For the height prediction
model, the diameter was used as an independent variable. The best aboveground biomass
models were selected based on the statically indices the highest coefficient determination
adjiR
2
,and the lowest residual standard error, Akaike information criteria, correction factor,
mean absolute percentage error, and root mean square error. Species-specific models using
the three simple predictor variables fitted the data in the form of: ln(Y) = -2.875 + 1.243ln (D)
+ 1.631ln (H) + 0.665ln (p) was selected as the best fit model for Wogera areas. This model
has coefficient determination (Adji R2) (0.94), residual standard error (0.230), Akaike
Information Criteria (1.297), a correction factor (1.027), a mean absolute percentage error
(15.71%), and a root mean square error (2.88). Comparing the current model (M6) with the
four general existing models, the current model approximately predicted the smallholder
plantation better than the general existing model, followed by model lnY = -2.187+ 0.916
ln(D^2H ρ) / 0.112 (D^2H ρ) ^0.916. The best-fit model for the height prediction model was
model (M3) with adjiR2 (0.84), RSE (0.102), and AIC (-78) in the form lnH = 1.400 + 0.5
(lnD). Based on the findings, it is possible to conclude that the developing species-specific
models are preferable to accurately estimate aboveground biomass and height prediction
allometric models compared to the existing or previously developed general models.