Models to estimate bole volume and taper for Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Manilkara zapota is an abundant forest species with commercial timber importance. Estimating the volume and projecting the distribution of timber products to carry out an accurate inventory contributes to the management of the species. The objective was to adjust models of stem volume (Vf) and taper (d) for M. zapota trees growing in the tropical forests of the center and south of Quintana Roo, Mexico. A sample of 186 trees was used to fit 10 models by maximum likelihood: eight for Vf and two for d. Using the values in the statistics of the coefficient of determination, root mean square error (RMSE) and the Akaike and Bayesian Criteria, as well as the logarithm of maximum likelihood, the Schumacher-Hall and Cielito 3 models were selected to estimate the Vf and d, respectively. More than 93% of the sample used was explained with a global deviation of less than 6.5%, where the average form factor was 0.5.