Predicting biomass of five shrub species in northeastern California

Abstract

Volume, crown diameter, and number of twigs were all highly correlated with biomass of individual shrubs of bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC), greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula Greene), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.), snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus Doug. ex. Hook), and gray rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall.) Britton). These variables were used to develop equations to predict above-ground dry weight; R2 values varied from 0.76 to 0.98. Oven-dry weights were 39 to 71% of live weight in the field.