Abstract

In this paper, critical length sampling for estimating the volume of downed coarse woody debris is presented. With critical length sampling, the volume of downed dead wood in a stand can be determined by summing the critical lengths of trees included in the sample. The critical length of a downed tree is the length of the &em section, which from a certain sample point is coarse enough to be counted when a relascope is used. In comparison to traditional relascope sampling, where the instrument is held vertically during the mea­ surements, the instrument is operated horizontally. By combining critical length sampling with critical height sampling-a method previously described for estimating the volume of standing trees -the total volume of dead wood can be estimated in a stand. It is proposed that the main area of use of the combined method would be in connection with rapid in-place inventories where a quick estimate of the volume of dead wood is needed. In this context, the combined critical height-critical length method provides a relatively simple means for obtaining such an estimate. In this report, the theoretical background is described and a short description of the use of the method in the field is presented. The report should be considered as a simple first description of the method, which will later on be complemented with a more compre­ hensive proof, efficiency comparisons with other methods, and experiences from field tests.

Keywords

deadwood; sampling; statistical methods; forest inventories

Published in

Arbetsrapport / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för skoglig resurshushållning
2003,
Publisher: Institutionen för skoglig resurshushållning, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

SLU Authors

• Ståhl, Göran

  • Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/125941