Merchantable volume system for pedunculate oak in northwestern Spain

A model is required for accurate estimation of the merchantable volume of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) trees in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to obtain equations for predicting merchantable volumes and stem profiles of individual trees. For this reason, two compatible and four non-compatible volume systems were initially evaluated and fitted to data from 251 destructively sampled trees which were collected in stands located throughout the area of distribution of the species in Galicia. The outliers were removed to provide a data set of measurements from 3 090 sections, which was then available for fitting. A second-order continuous autoregressive error structure was used to account for autocorrelation. Comparison of the models was carried out using overall goodness-of-fit statistics and box plots of residuals against relative height or diameter class. The compatible volume system of Fang et al. 22] provided the best compromise in describing the stem profile and estimating merchantable height, merchantable volume and total volume and is therefore recommended for pedunculate oak stands in Galicia.