# Larch aboveground biomass from DBH, AMS2 (stem + branch + foliage)

Aboveground biomass equation for Larix olgensis, China, from Dong et al. 2020. 229 trees, DBH 2–35.7 cm. Listed on Tree Allometrics, a free library of tree allometric equations, each quoted from the source that published it.

## Equation

As printed in Dong et al. 2020 (Section 3.2):

> the aboveground biomass was also estimated by summing the estimated stem, branch, and foliage biomass

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#equation

In this library's units, ready to compute (aboveground biomass in kg):

```
Aboveground biomass = (exp(-3.5897) * D^2.8216) + (exp(-3.1333) * D^1.8538) + (exp(-2.757) * D^1.3856)
```

Inputs: D = Diameter at breast height (1.3 m) (cm).
The source's own form: (exp(-3.5897) * DBH^2.8216) + (exp(-3.1333) * DBH^1.8538) + (exp(-2.757) * DBH^1.3856), with DBH in cm; output in kg.
Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#canonical

## What it covers

- Output: Aboveground biomass, kg
- Taxon: Larix olgensis (species), family Pinaceae; conifer
- Where: Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China (40 plots, 10 sites). Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#where
- Biomes: temperate
- Stand: plantation
- Trees measured: 229. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#n_trees
- DBH range: 2–35.7 cm. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#dbh
- R²: 0.9432. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#r2
- Method: weighted NSUR (AMS2); aboveground = stem + branch + foliage. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#method
- Verification: read in the original source
- Last checked: 2026-11-02. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#checked_at

A missing fit statistic is one the source doesn't state, or that we haven't recorded; it is never estimated. Outside the stated DBH range or region, the equation is an extrapolation.

## Source

Dong, L., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Z., Xie, L., & Li, F. (2020). Comparison of Tree Biomass Modeling Approaches for Larch (Larix olgensis Henry) Trees in Northeast China. Forests, 11(2), 202.

- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f11020202
- Access: open access
- Copy we read: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/2/202/pdf?version=1582977507
- Every equation from this source: https://treeallometry.org/sources/dong-2020/
- Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#source

## The facts, in the source's words

**Trees measured** (Section 2.1):

> the dataset consisted of measurements on 229 larch trees using destructive biomass sampling

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-fit-n-trees

**Smallest DBH** (Table 1):

> DBH (cm) 229 2.0 35.7 17.9 6.9

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-fit-dbh-min-cm

**Equation** (Section 3.2):

> the aboveground biomass was also estimated by summing the estimated stem, branch, and foliage biomass

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#equation

**Equation** (Table 3, AMS2, DBH):

> Stem −3.5897 0.1057 2.8216 0.0359

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-expression

**Equation** (Table 3, AMS2, DBH):

> Branch −3.1333 0.1587 1.8538 0.0555

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-expression-2

**Equation** (Table 3, AMS2, DBH):

> Foliage −2.757 0.1589 1.3856 0.0533

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-expression-3

**R²** (Table 5, AMS2):

> R2 0.9296 0.6627 0.6996 0.9432 (AMS2 row, Stem Branch Foliage Aboveground)

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#quote-fit-r2

**Our note:** Aboveground biomass is the sum of the three AMS2 component equations as the paper describes (Section 3.2). Additive AMS2 system (aggregated, no constraint) fitted by weighted nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression, the system the authors recommend over the base model when no subsample is available for random effects. Biomass models are exp(b0) * DBH^b1 [* H^b2] with no back-transform factor (nonlinear fit). The paper also gives base model, mixed-effects, AMS1, DMS1 and DMS2 parameters (Tables 2-4), not added here.

## Checks this equation passes

On every build, the library's form and the source's own form (in its units) must both give these values within 1%.

| Inputs | Expected | We get | From |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| D = 10 | 23 | 23 | Computed from the printed form: hand-computed from the published form |
| D = 25 | 265.4 | 265.4 | Computed from the printed form: hand-computed from the published form |

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/#checks

The calculator on the page shows carbon as biomass × 0.47 (IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Vol. 4, Ch. 4, Table 4.3) and CO₂e as carbon × 44/12.

## How to cite

Cite the source for the equation: Dong, L., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Z., Xie, L., & Li, F. (2020). Comparison of Tree Biomass Modeling Approaches for Larch (Larix olgensis Henry) Trees in Northeast China. Forests, 11(2), 202. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11020202

Cite this page for the record and checks: Tree Allometrics (Restoration Scope), "Larch aboveground biomass from DBH, AMS2 (stem + branch + foliage)", checked 2026-11-02, https://treeallometry.org/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d/. Data CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Quotes are the authors' words.

Data for this equation: https://treeallometry.org/data/equations/dong-2020-ams2-agb-d.json
Report a problem: email info@restorationscope.com with the equation id (dong-2020-ams2-agb-d) and where the right value appears.