Site index for Terminalia amazonia at Costa Rica

Abstract

Results include models for the prediction of Site Index from dominant height and
age for Terminalia amazonia in Costa Rica. The fitted models were those of Chapman-Richards
and Schumacher; the best-fit model was selected using the criteria of adjusted-r² and visual assessment of trend lines against observed data, as well as the Site Index variance. Chapman-Richards model presented better fit than that of Schumacher. Therefore, the Site Index for Terminalia amazonia in Costa Rica can be estimated with higher precision with the common
intercept of Chapman-Richards, which can beused to develop polymorphic curves. With the selected model a “c” parameter was calculated to generate the curves representing the observed data. The selected model represents a tool, which makes it possible to classify the sites through an estimate of the increase in height, which T. amazonia could have in a given site. Thus, possible users should have the responsability and criteria about the model proposed in this work.