Growth and yield prediction model for bakauan babae (Rhizophora mucronata) plantation

Forty circular sampling plots of bakauan babae were established covering seven different ages and seven different sites within the coastal areas of Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental [Philippines]. The data collected were basal diameter, top diameter, length or merchantable height and total height of the five dominant and co-dominant trees within each sampling plot. These were used in the computation of stand yield per hectare. The equation for site index was derived from the average total height and stand age relationship. The growth and yield prediction model will be used for the development of a yield table useful for lumber evaluation and management of bakauan babae plantation. The site index guide of the form H=0.5 + 0.4885 A sup 2 + 0.0029A sup 3 was derived with a coefficient of determination Rsup2 = 0.9578. At a base age of six years, the site index guide was transformed into a final site index equation of the form SI-H + 2.3406 - 0.4885 Asup2 - 0.0029 Asup3. From this equation, a site index table was constructed. The final growth and yield model developed was log Y = 4.0588 + 1.6263 log A + 0.1639 SI + 0.7269 log NT + 0.0289 BA with Rsup2 = 0.9757. This model used in the construction of yield tables and subsequent tridimentional yield curves were plotted. Analysis of the behavior of the yield curves showed that the growth and yield prediction model simulated the behavior of the stand as it grew and developed in its natural environmental condition through time. The yield curves at different site indices increased as the stand age increased. The rate of increase in stand yield as influenced by the increasing values of site index and basal area declined as the total number of trees per hectare increased over time. The model is useful for a stand age ranging from 3 to 19 years old, basal area from 2 to 45 sq m/ha, site indices from 2 to 8 m and 1,000-6,000 number of trees per hectare