Modelling growth and yield of Dipterocarp forests in Central Highlands of Vietnam [Elektronische Ressource] / Thanh Tan Nguyen

Thanh Tan Nguyen

Informations

• Publié par: technische_universitat_munchen
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 24
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

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TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN

Lehrstuhl für Waldwachstumskunde



Modelling Growth and Yield
of Dipterocarp Forests
in Central Highlands of Vietnam


Thanh Tan Nguyen



Vollständiger Abdruck der von der Fakultät Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan
für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt der Technischen Universität München zur
Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Naturwissenschaften
genehmigten Dissertation.



Vorsitzender(r): Univ.-Prof. Dr. R. Mosandl
Prüfer der Dissertation:
1. Univ.-Prof. Dr. H. Pretzsch
2. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Th. F. Knoke

Die Dissertation wurde am 02.10.2009 bei der Technischen Universität München
eingereicht und durch die Fakultät Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für
Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt am 08.03.2010 angenommen.

Preface and Acknowledgements


This study was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hans Pretzsch, Chair
for Forest Growth and Yield Science, Technische Univesität München. His excellent
guidance, advice and encouragement are gratefully acknowledged. I have learnt a lot from
him, academically and personally.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Peter Biber, my supervisor, who has
been full of continuous support and encouragement through out my research studies, not
only guidance in academic but also the consideration for my stay in Germany.
I would also like to use this opportunity to express my thanks to numerous people in
the Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, Technische Universität München, including
Dr. Stefan Seifert, who has helped me a lot in several aspects, especially computer
techniques, Prof. Dr. Thomas Seifert, Dr. Hans-Joachim Klemmt, Dr. Tobias Mette, Marga
Schmid, Enno Uhl, Ralf Moshammer, Leonhard Steinacker, and all the colleagues in the
Chair for their never ending help and encouragement.
I am also indebted to many people at Tay Nguyen University, where I have worked,
for their useful comments, valuable advice and encouragement especially Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Bao Huy, Department of forest resources and environment management, Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Nguyen Xuan Thao, the rector of the University, Dr. Nguyen Tan Vui, the vice rector of the
University, Dr. Nguyen Van Thuy, the dean of the faculty of agriculture and forestry, and
all my colleagues at the faculty.
I wish to thank Mr. Nguyen Dinh Son, Branch of Forest Inventory and Planning
Institute of Vietnam in Central Highlands for generously providing valuable data from
permanent plots of Dipterocarp forests.
Without the assistance of students at Tay Nguyen University, various stages of my
field work would have been very difficult. I earnestly acknowledge the assistance of a
student team including Tuan, Quynh and Huy.
I gratefully acknowledge 322 Project, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam
Government for supporting my research studies with scholarship and DAAD (Deutscher
Akademischer Austausch Dienst) for providing additional financial assistance during my
study and stay in Germany.
iLast but not least, I would like to acknowledge the patience, consideration and
encouragement from my loving wife, Dang Thi Thuy Thao and my daughter, Nguyen Thuy
Dzung who not only managed my absence but also provided me with constant passion and
motivation for my work.


Freising, September 2009

Thanh Tan Nguyen



















iiAbstract

Dipterocarp forests in Vietnam are distinct ecosystems with specific characteristics
which are different from other forest types such as evergreen forests, semi-deciduous
forests and conifer forests. According to inventory results of the Forest Inventory and
Planning Institute of Vietnam in 2005, the area of the Dipterocarp forests is approximately
680.000 ha, accounting about 5.4% the total forest area of the country and concentrates
mainly in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
The main objective of this study is to develop a size class model based on systems
of differential equations for supporting sustainable management of the Dipterocarp forests
in Vietnam. Two data sets collected in the Dipterocarp forest in YokDon National Park
were used in this study to construct the growth model and calculate the main stand level
characteristics. They include plot group A consisting of twelve one-hectare permanent plots
with two measurements of a 5-year growth interval, and plot group B of 21 one fourth
hectare plots with a single measurement. For calibrating the growth model, only data set of
group A plots was used. In addition to be used to calculate the main stand level parameters,
the group B plots will supply reliable data sources to recalibrate the model in the future.
The study area was classified into three site quality levels based on mean height of the 20
largest trees in each plot. The measurements on these permanent plots recorded a total of
4,975 trees belonging to 64 species with diameter at breast height (dbh) from 6 cm and
above. Based on biological characteristics, trees on these plots were grouped into three
species groups: Dipterocarp species, evergreen tall species, and small-sized, lower species.
The diameter distribution of the average stands follows the form of negative exponential
distribution for all three species groups in accordance with the distribution rule of natural
uneven-aged forests. The number of trees per hectare has a tendency to decrease when
2 -1diameter increases. Stand basal area ranges from 10.15 to 26.9 m ha and the range of
2 -1 -1basal area increment is between 0.27 and 0.48 m ha yr . Standing volume ranges from
3 -153.8 to 208.8 m ha and the range of standing volume increment between 1.5 and 3.86
3 -1 -1 -m ha yr . The number of tree per hectare ranges from 223 to 1156 trees ha .
The four major components of the growth model are diameter increment, mortality,
recruitment and harvesting. The first three models were developed separately for each
species group and site quality level. Multiple linear regression, non-linear regression and
logistic regression were used to estimate the parameters of diameter increment, recruitment
and mortality functions. Significant stand level variables included stand basal area, basal
area in larger trees, tree number, site quality, and significant individual-tree level variables
were diameter, diameter squared and reciprocal of diameter. Selecting the model equations
iiiwas based on the following criteria: suitability of biological interpretation and goodness-of-
fit statistics. The results indicated that diameter growth level of three species groups on
different site quality levels was significantly different with the exception of species group 3
on good and medium site quality. Trees grow more quickly on good sites than on poor
ones. However, the effect of site quality on mortality rate was not obvious in this study.
These major components were then embedded to the final growth model which is a size
class management-oriented model. The model was implemented in the framework of the
modelling software Vensim DSS 5.7a. It consists of 76 one-cm diameter classes ranging
from 6 to 81cm dbh for three species groups, the last class gathering all trees with diameter
above 80.5cm. Time interval for each simulation step of the model was set one year and
diameter class width was one cm.
A thorough evaluation of the growth model showed that the models were fitted very
well with the empirical data. Simulation results with the models showed that the difference
between observed and predicted values of basal areas and tree number distribution by
diameter class for a growth period of five years was small. The long-term performances of
the simulation proved plausible states of the stand evolution which is consistent with
general knowledge of stand growth over long time. This indicates that the model can be
applied in practice.
The example applications of the growth model in determining appropriate
silvicultural regimes based on the method of scenario analysis. Given the initial condition
of the stand, the model estimated the state of the stand after given years with the alternative
assumed prescriptions. The simulation results indicated that, with a selection harvesting
cycle of 10 years, different initial stand distributions will produce different sustainable
yields. The q-factor method was applied to determine the target diameter distributions that
produce maximum sustainable yields on three site qualities. The maximum diameters for
each species group were selected based on management purpose and diameter growth level
as follows: for species group 1 and 2, maximum diameters are 70, 60 and 50 cm for good,
medium and poor site quality, respectively. For species group 3, maximum diameter is 35
cm for all site qualities. From the simulation results of the model, the following target
distributions have been defined: on good site quality with following parameters: basal area
2 -1equal to 20 m ha , q-quotient (slope of the stem number-diameter distributio