Abstract

LEDESMA, M.; CARRANZA, C.A.  and  BALZARINI, M.. Estimation of leaf biomass in Prosopis flexuosa by means of allometric relationships. Agriscientia [online]. 2010, vol.27, n.2, pp.87-96. ISSN 1668-298X.

The estimation of leaf biomass, usually performed by alometric relations, is important for the interpretation of primary production and for the assessment of ecological interactions between trees and the rest of the components in a wood vegetation. The goal for the present work was to adjust and to select allometric models for the estimation of leaf biomass Prosopis flexuosa based on dendrometric variables. Six trees were surveyed. The diameter and sapwood area of transversal samples of wood were determined at four different levels: in the orders of ramification within living crown (secondary, tertiary and quaternary grouped branches), at the distal portions of primary branches and in the apical and basal portions of bole. The leaves were collected according to each level and dry mass was obtained. The sapwood area was the best predictor of leaf biomass, although diameter provided accurate estimations within crown and at the distal portions of primary branches. The models based on trunk dimensions were less precise. It is concluded that the obtained regression model based on the diameter of the distal portions of primary branches can be applied for the non-destructive estimation of leaf biomass in Prosopis flexuosa adult trees.

Keywords : Allometry; Leaf weight; Stem diameter; Sapwood.

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