ABSTRACT

The concept of site quality was developed to project the expected production of timber species in even-aged stands in order to produce standardized site index curves. This concept can also be used in a more ecological sense to discern the spatial growth patterns of timber species in natural forests. We used the height-diameter relationship to evaluate a method to determine site quality for Swietenia macrophylla King in natural forests in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Using linear models and analysis of covariance, we detected significant and notable differences in mahogany development (p < .001), with some trees exceeding the predicted height by more than one meter. These differences were related to micro-topographic and edaphic factors and to the spectral response of the vegetation. Using a predictive model of site quality to develop a site quality map, we also determined that 86% of the production forest in the study area fit in the low productivity category, with mahogany growing below the predicted height for the area. These results suggest that site quality maps can contribute to effective forest management where forest aptitude is not homogeneous for timber growth. Concentrating management practices on high quality sites has the potential to conserve investment resources and increase production.

摘要

开发场地质量的概念是为了预测偶龄林木的预期产量，以产生标准化的场地指数曲线。这个概念也可以在更生态的意义上用于辨别天然林中木材物种的空间生长模式。我们使用高度-直径关系来评估一种确定墨西哥金塔纳罗奥州天然林中紫藤花的场地质量的方法。使用线性模型和协方差分析，我们检测到红木发展的显着差异（p< .001)，一些树木超过预测高度一米以上。这些差异与微地形和土壤因素以及植被的光谱响应有关。使用场地质量预测模型开发场地质量图，我们还确定研究区域 86% 的生产林属于低生产力类别，红木生长低于该区域的预测高度。这些结果表明，场地质量图可以有助于有效的森林管理，因为森林能力对于木材的生长并不均匀。将管理实践集中在高质量的场地上具有节省投资资源和增加产量的潜力。