Biomass yield and modeling of logging residues of <i>Terminalia superba</i> in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

An important aspect of sustainable forest management is periodical inventory, which coupled with the need for conservation of forest resources, formed the basis for the estimation of logging residues of Terminalia superba in the South-western part of Nigeria. A total of thirty one (31) trees were clear-felled in natural forests by plotless sampling techniques. Replicate wood discs and samples were taken fresh from the stem, branch and foliage residues left on the forest floors after the useful logs have been evacuated. The samples were dried to a constant weight in the laboratory and thereafter, the fresh/dry weight ratio of the samples was used to estimate the biomass of the residues of the felled trees. The mean biomass of the residues of Terminalia superba were 125.99kg, 135.42kg and 18.91kg for stem, branches and foliage respectively. Residues generated were found to be highest in the tree branches, followed by the stem and the foliage. The contribution of the various biomass components in relation to the total residue biomasses were 45.84% stem, 47.85% branch and 6.29% foliage. The use of Dbh as an independent variable in the prediction of models for estimating the biomass residues of the tree species was adjudged best because it performed well. The validation results showed that the selected models satisfied the assumptions of regression analysis. The practical implication of the models is that they could be readily used in the estimation of biomass residues of Terminalia superba.

Keywords: Modelling, logging residue, biomass yield, Terminalia ivorensis