GROWTH AND VOLUME EQUATIONS DEVELOPED FROM STEM ANALYSIS FOR <em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em> IN COSTA RICA

Abstract

PEREZ, D. 2008. Growth and volume equations developed from stem analysis for Tectona grandis in Costa
Rica. Management prescriptions and growth projections for Tectona grandis in Costa Rica very often lack
high quality supporting data. The present research focused on the use of stem analysis techniques for
constructing diameter at breast height (dbh), total height and volume equations, and their comparison
with existing models developed from temporal and permanent sample plots. A total of 25 trees, with ages
between 8 and 46 years, dbh between 9.4 and 55.4 cm, and total height between 12.4 and 33.3 m, were
felled for stem analysis. Previous developed models for teak in Costa Rica using sample plot databases were
satisfactorily ‘duplicated’ by models developed with stem analysis data. Stem analysis has proven to be a
useful tool for creating a growth database in the absence of consecutive measurements or for supporting
existing chronological databases.