Publication

The total foliar area or mass of a tree is difficult to measure, as is its bark or cambial area, and various other components of aboveground biomass. A variety of sampling methods is proposed and estimators of these characteristics are presented. Based on probability precepts, all estimators are unbiased. An unbiased estimator of variance for each estimator also is presented. The basis in probability rather than a fitted regression equation provides some important safeguards, and is a useful alternative when fitted regression functions are unavailable for a particular species and physiographic condition.