Estimation of height growth patterns and site index curves for Pinus radiata plantations in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the mean top height growth patterns and site index curves (base index age 20 years) for Pinus radiata stands grown in New South Wales, Australia. Garcia’s stochastic differential equation version of the Bertalanffy-Richards equation was selected for stand height prediction using data from permanent growth and long-term experimental plots. This technique uses simultaneous maximum likelihood methods to estimate the global and local model parameters. Three regional base age invariant site index curves were created based on this height estimation methodology. These models may be used for modelling stand height growth as a component of a stand growth model and can also provide an indication of the productivity of the site quality of Pinus radiata stands planted in New South Wales, Australia.

Keywords: height/age curves, height growth, mean top height, Pinus radiata, site index