Functions for aboveground biomass estimation derived from satellite images data in Mediterranean agroforestry systems

Abstract

Forest biomass has been having an increasing importance in the world economy and in the evaluation of the forests development and monitoring. The main goal of this study is the development of functions for the estimation of aboveground biomass, using crown cover as independent variable, for Quercus rotundifolia, Quercus suber and Pinus pinea in agroforestry systems, both for monospecies and multispecies stands, based on Portuguese data. Crown cover per specie was derived from crown horizontal projection obtained by processing very high spatial resolution satellite images (Quickbird and Worldview-2), with contrast split segmentation method and object-oriented classification. The stand species composition distinguished species and monospecies from multispecies stands. The best model was the one with crown cover and dummy variables for composition as explanatory variables, reflecting the differences between species and stand structure. Aboveground biomass with this function should ideally be calculated with the grid areas applied in this study, though similar accuracies can be obtained for other grid sizes.