Allometric biomass, nutrient and carbon stock models for Kandelia candel of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Abstract

Key message Present study recommends DBH as independent variable of the derived allometric models and Biomass = a 1 b DBH 2 has been selected for total above-ground biomass, nutrients and carbon stock. Abstract Kandelia candel (L.) Druce is a shrub to small tree of the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to derive the allometric models for estimating above-ground biomass, nutrient and carbon stock in K. candel. A total of eight linear models with 64 regression equations were tested to derive the allometric models for biomass of each part of plant; and nutrients and carbon stock in total above-ground biomass. The best fitted allometric models were selected by considering the values of R 2, CV, R mse ,MS error , S a , S , F value, AICc and Furnival Index. The selected allometric models were Biomass = 0.014 DBH2 b ? 0.03; HBiomass = 0.29 DBH - 0.21; HBiomass = 0.66 HDBH - 0.57; HBiomass = 1.19 HDBH - 1.02; Biomass = 0.21 DBH 2 ? 0.12 for leaves, branches, bark, stem without bark and total above-ground biomass, respectively. The selected allometric models for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Carbon stock in total above-ground biomass were N = 0.39 DBH ? 0.49, P = 0.77 DBH 2 ? 0.14, K = 0.87 DBH 2 ? 0.07 and C = 0.09 DBH 2 ? 0.05, respectively. The derived allometric models have included DBH as a single independent variable, which may give quick and accurate estimation of the above-ground biomass, nutrient and carbon stock in this species. This information may also contribute to a broader study of nutrient cycling, nutrient budgeting and carbon sequestration of the studied forest.