An Evaluation of Dimension Analysis for Predicting Shrub Biomass

Abstract

Fifteen independent variables consisting of circumference, surface area, and volume for various assumed shapes were derived from simple diameter and height measurements. These variables were used in seven models to predict aboveground biomass of leaves, different sizes of live and dead twigs, and combinations of fractions for threetip sagebrush, gray horsebrush, green rabbitbrush, and broom snakeweed. In addition, models based on height and circumference were tested on each species and fraction. A simple linear model with surface area or volume as independent variables and height × circumference models gave the best biomass predictions for these species.