Elektriliini trasside puitse biomassi modelleerimine/ Modelling of woody biomass on electricity pylons

Abstract

The aim of this study was to model regression equations for the volume of oven dry stems, branches and leaves/needles in relation to tree height and to estimate the growth of biomass on electricity pylons. A formula of linear regression between moisture and acidity of soil was also modeled in order to assess the volume of woody biomass. In 2009, 42 sample areas with 126 circular plots were created. The sample areas were located all over Estonia in order to render a wide representation of soil types. The plots were re-measured in 2012. The sample areas consisted of three circle plots divided into a series of 4m wide, distance between centers of circles was 10m. One hundred twenty two trees from the sample areas were felled in 2009 and 182 in 2012. The data of sample trees were analyzed and regression equations to estimate the growth of trees in sample areas were calculated. The average oven dry mass for stems and branches was 1970 kg/ha, with a maximum of 10,520 kg/ha. Leafless biomass growth was also calculated for each sample plot: the largest growth (in carbon soil) was 1562 kg/ha/y. The density of trees in the sample plots were the biggest influence on annual growth. The number of trees varied up to 200,000 with an average of 48,000 trees per hectare. The study also includes the results of research into the relationship between biomass production and soil properties.

Keywords

• electricity pylons
• small tree biomass
• biomass production
• biomass equations