Author: Quang V. Cao¹

Source: Forest Science, Volume 50, Number 5, October 2004 , pp. 682-685(4)

Abstract:

The Weibull function has been widely used to characterize diameter distributions in a forest stand. Methods have been developed to predict the Weibull parameters, either directly or indirectly, from stand age, density, and dominant height. In this study, four existing methods and two new methods of obtaining the Weibull parameters were evaluated using data from a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation. While both new methods performed well, one of them produced consistently better goodness-of-fit statistics than those from the existing methods. FOR. SCI. 50(5):682–685.

Keywords: Weibull distribution; parameter prediction; parameter recovery; maximum likelihood; Pinus taeda; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management

Document Type: Regular article

Affiliations: 1: School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University AgCenter Baton Rouge LA 70803 Phone: (225) 578-4218;, Fax: (225) 578-4227, Email: qcao@lsu.edu