Abstract

DELGADO ESPINOZA, Rosa Isela et al. Diameter at breast height and basal area growth for Pinus durangensis Martínez in Madera, Chihuahua State. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2025, vol.16, n.89, pp.29-58.  Epub June 30, 2025. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v16i89.1518.

Growth models are an efficient tool that helps to plan the application of silvicultural treatments in forest management. This study focused on fitting equations with fixed and random effects to predict the growth in diameter at breast height and basal area of Pinus durangensis in a forest community called Cebadilla de Dolores ejido, Madera municipality, state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Data from stem analysis of 27 trees were used (measured in 2021), obtaining slices at 1.30 m height and commercial measurements. Seven growth models were fitted, selecting the best one using 10 fitting statistics (e. g., R 2 , RMSE, AIC); in addition, the mixed-effects model procedure with fixed and random parameters at the individual tree level was used. The use of mixed-effects models provided estimates that allowed modeling the variability of diameters and basal area in terms of age. The results showed that age explained more than 98 % of the variability in diameter and basal area, with RMSE of 0.91 cm and 0.002 m2, respectively. The Chapman-Richards model was the most effective for modeling the growth of the variables studied, with very efficient fitting statistics. In addition, mixed effects improved predictions at the individual tree level, incorporating fixed and random parameters.

Keywords : Stem analysis; Chapman-Richards; growth; algebraic difference approach; mixed-effects models; fixed and random parameters.

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