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Methods to Determine Biomass
Methods to Determine Biomass
Biomass can be determined using either direct or indirect sampling methods. Direct methods involve techniques that weigh or estimate the actual biomass of plants in quadrats. Indirect methods are based on developing a relationship between plant weight and an easier-to-measure attribute such as plant height, rainfall, or cover.
Biomass
Biomass
Biomass is a commonly measured vegetation attribute that refers to the weight of plant material within a given area. Other general terms, such as 'yield' or 'production', are sometimes used interchangeably with biomass. Units to express biomass should be selected so that actual plant weight is easy to visualize, such as lb/acre, kg/ha or g/m2 according to vegetation abundance and objectives of the inventory or monitoring program.
Estimation Approaches to Determine Biomass
Estimation Approaches to Determine Biomass
Estimation approaches involve techniques that require observers to visually assess biomass in quadrats, rather than harvesting to determine biomass. Three common estimation methods to determine biomass are commonly used:
Binomial Distribution
Binomial Distribution
Binomial distributions are special sampling distributions generated when an attribute with only two possible outcomes is being recorded from a series of sample units. The sample units should be independent and selected by random sampling.