JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 88-96.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202006045

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Individual tree crown width prediction models for natural Phoebe bournei in central Jiangxi Province

SHAN Kaili(), ZANG Hao, PAN Ping, NING Jinkui, OUYANG Xunzhi*()   

  1. Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Protection and Restoration of Forest Ecosystem in Poyang Lake Basin, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
  • Received:2020-06-26 Accepted:2020-09-24 Online:2022-01-30 Published:2022-02-09
  • Contact: OUYANG Xunzhi E-mail:1321566532@qq.com;oyxz@jxau.edu.cn

Abstract:

【Objective】 The influence of competitive indices and modeling methods on the prediction of individual tree crowns of natural Phoebe bournei in Jiangxi Province was discussed to provide a reference for accurately predicting the crown width of natural Phoebe bournei.【Method】An individual crown width model was developed based on a dataset comprising 1 011 Phoebe bournei from 25 typical plots of natural secondary Phoebe bournei forest located in Jiangxi Province. The individual tree crown width model was established using four modeling methods: ordinary least squares (OLS) model, mixed effects model, boosted regression trees, and random forest. Four competitive indices, namely, basal area, basal area of larger trees, stand density, and simple competition, were added to reflect the influence of competition on the crown width model. The model evaluation criteria included determination coefficient (R2), root-mean-square error (RMSE), relative mean absolute error (RMA) and mean absolute error (MAE).【Result】The results demonstrated that when no competition index was added, the order of model accuracy was mixed effects model > OLS model > boosted regression trees > random forest; when the competition index was added, the optimal model was as follows: mixed effects model > OLS model> random forest > boosted regression trees (BRT). The OLS model had the best predictive ability when the basal area of larger trees was added; the BRT had the best predictive ability when a simple competition index with a fixed radius of 7 m was added; the random forest had the best predictive ability when the basal area was added. The mixed effects model had the best predictive ability when no competitive index was added (RMSE is 0.846 0, RMA is 0.211 1, MAE is 0.650 1), and it was superior to the other models. 【Conclusion】The results of this study accurately predicted the growth of Phoebe bournei individual tree crowns, thereby providing a theoretical basis for improving the forest quality of natural secondary Phoebe bournei forest.

Key words: Phoebe bournei, crown width model, competitive index, mixed effect model, Jack knife

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