Application of a geometrical volume equation to species with different bole forms

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Abstract
Stem analysis of 20 Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill., 68 Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P., 19 Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, 31 Populustremuloides Michx., and 37 Betulapapyrifera Marsh. revealed form variation between species. A volume equation based on the paracone (a geometrical solid midway between a paraboloid and a cone) estimated individual tree volume within 10% of the true volume (at the 95% confidence level) for all species. The input variables required were total height and diameter at a relative height of 0.2 for Betulapapyrifera and 0.3 for the other four species. If breast-height diameter was used, the effect of form variation on the accuracy of volume prediction was more pronounced. In this case, the geometrical equation modified for each species according to the average centre of gravity provided more consistently accurate volume estimates than either the paracone equation or Honer's transformed variable equation. For all species, the diameter measurement position was more critical than the version of the geometrical equation selected.

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