VOLUME TABLES

Volume table is defined as a statement giving in tabular form the average volume of trees
by diameter, height or basal area. It is used for determining volumes of both felled and
standing trees.
The assumption in volume table construction is that a definite relationship exists between
accurately measured stem volume and easily measured tree variables. The easiest tree
parameters to measure are dbh and height. The volume obtained from the table is thus
expected volume.

CLASSIFICATION OF VOLUME TABLES

There are two ways of classifying volume tables:-

1. According to geographical or applicability.

Under this category there are two types:-
i. Local volume tables
These tables are of limited area of application such as a plantation.
ii. Standard or general volume tables
These are for wider area application such as the whole country. These tables are bias and
unsuitable for local application due to inadequate coverage of sources of variation. Once
an area has adequate range of tree sizes local volume tables should be prepared as these
are usually more efficient.
2. According to the number of variables used to
construct volume table.
Volume tables are constructed based on:-
a) One input variable – usually dbh
b) Two input variable – usually dbh and height
c) Three variable – usually dbh, height and form quotient.

a) One parameter volume Table

Frequently used one parameter volume models are:-
Simple liner relationship of volume and basal area or quadratic dbh as independent
variable.
V = b0 + b1(g) or V = b0 + b1(d2)
Where:- V= tree volume, m3
b1= constants to be estimated
Normally the trees are felled and their volumes determined. The felled trees are related to
dbh through regression analysis.
Single parameter volume tables assume that there is a definite relationship between dbh
and height i.e. tree of a given diameter class tend to be of similar height and form. For
this to hold the site variations are assumed to be minimum. Since this is possible for
limited areas, Single parameter Volume Tables (SVTs) are some time knows as local
volume tables.
The major advantage of single parameter volume table is that diameter is cheap, easy to
measure at relatively higher precision

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The major disadvantage of single parameter volume table is that, their application is
limited to small range of diameters. Extrapolation beyond the tree sizes used in their
construction usually causes bias.
an example of one parameter volume equation for Delibergia melanoxylon:-
V = 0.00023d2.231

b) Two parameter volume tables

Two common models are:-

(i.) The simple combined variables model:-
V= b0 + b1(d2h)
(ii.) Multiple regressions with powers of d and h
V= b0 + b1(d2) + b2(h) + b3(d2h) ……..
Advantage of two parameter volume table is that it is usually more precise estimates than
one parameter model.
An example of a general two parameters volume equation for miombo trees:-
V = 0.0001d 2.032 h 0.66
The disadvantage compared to single parameter volume tables is the added cost of
measuring height.

TECHNIQUES IN VOLUME TABLE CONSTRUCTION

Construction of volume table involves four stages namely:-

1. SELECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF VOLUMES OF SAMPLE

TREES
It is important first to define the population in terms of:-
• Size and age of trees
• Species and Geographical location
Selection of the sample trees should cover all size classes and site variations.
Stratification by age and site may be used. The number of trees normally will depend on:-
• The precision required
• The mathematical models
• The residual variance of the population.
This means that it is necessary to measure a sample of about 30 trees. More trees may be
added if the desired precision is not obtained.
In even aged conifer stands, a sample of 50 trees is likely to give a mean with a precision
of +10% at a probability p = 0.05.
Addition sample of a total 20 trees of all sizes should be collected in the same operation
to be used for model validation.

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 2. FITTING VOLUME EQUATION
Volume equation usually fit using least squares estimates of regression parameters.

y = ax + b

Corrected Sum Square of y

SSy = ∑y2 – (∑y)2
n

Corrected Sum Square of x

SSx = ∑x2 – (∑x)2
n

Corrected Sum of Products

SPxy = ∑xy – ∑x∑y
n

a = SPxy
SSx

b = Y – aX

The candidate models have to be selected first. This may be done by:-
• Scanning the literature
• Preparing simple scatting graphs.

3. CHOOSING THE BEST MODEL

Before a model is accepted for further analysis it must meet the following condition.
A plot of residuals must have constant variance and no bias. Similarly a plot of measured
against estimated volume should show no bias.
Accepted models should then be ranked by:-
Goodness of fit as measured by R2. Coefficient of determination (R2) is one of the
measure of fit.

This involves first calculation of Reduction SS

Reduction SS = (Spxy)2
SSx

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Then,
R2 = Reduction SS
Ssy

= (SPxy)2
(SSx)(ssy)

R2 has a maximum of 1 and is always positive. Interpretation R2 = 0.85 that is 85% of

variation in Y is associated with X.

4. VALIDATING THE SELECTED MODEL

Model validating involves testing the applicability of the model on independent data. The
performance of the model is tested on the 20 independent volume data not used on the
construction of the model.
The easiest technique is:-
(i.) To plot volume measured (Vm) against volume estimated (Ve) and drawing a line
through the origin.
(ii.) To plot the residual of test trees against measured volume.

Detecting bias in volume model can be done by using the following formula:-

Bias (%) = ∑Vm - ∑Ve

∑Vm
Model validation techniques may also be used to test the applicability of the existing
volume table on a new site.
These tables are extremely easy to use as the volume of any tree is read directly from
table opposite the relevant dbh of the tree since diameter is the only independent variable
we have.