Effects of Sample Plot Size and Prediction Models on Diameter Distribution Recovery

Abstract Distribution of tree diameters in a stand is characterized using models that predict diameter moments and/or percentiles conjunction with mathematical system to recover the parameters an assumed statistical distribution. Studies have compared Weibull distribution recovery systems but arrived at different conclusions regarding best approach for recovering stand’s from predicted stand-level statistics. We assessed effects sample plot size and moments/percentiles prediction on accuracy three approaches used parameters—method moments, percentile method, moments-percentile hybrid method. Data five sizes, four which were virtually created existing larger plots, unthinned loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations, fit moments/percentile evaluate recovered approaches. Both model form affected as indicated by changes their ranking one another same form. The method ranked when evaluation error index did not account stumpage value, value was considered.