Abstract
The Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) is currently not commercially important species, therefore the knowledge of biomass partitioning in a tree is rather incomplete. Moreover, lime biomass is estimated mostly using biomass functions designated for other species, without the knowledge of limits of such a use. For these reasons, we developed functions for the estimation of lime biomass in the aboveground woody parts. The functions were parameterized using 81 tree samples collected in two plots in the Czech Republic. In addition, we compared the biomass estimates produced by our functions with estimates produced by a function for beech, which have been obviously used as a surrogate for missing lime models in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
On average, 78% of lime aboveground biomass was found to account for tree stem, 20% for branches and 2% for stump. Average biomass density was 374 kg m−3 and no significant differences between tree compartments were found. Accuracy of all models in terms of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) significantly differed between tree diameter classes; in case of total aboveground biomass, the RMSE was ca. 20% of the average biomass weight in a given class up to a diameter of 45 cm, and then it rose sharply. The RMSE was higher in case of compartments with variable dimensions, such as branches and stump. RMSE was slightly higher in case of estimates produced using a beech-specific function than using that developed in the current study (average RMSE 27.95 and 29.42%, respectively); at the same time, beech-specific function overestimated lime stem biomass by ca 12%. The almost equal RMSE implies the usability of both parameterisations for lime biomass estimation, though the correction of the mentioned overestimation should be applied.