# Malawi miombo AGB, DBH and wood density (Model 3)

Aboveground biomass equation (without leaves) for Miombo woodland trees, Malawi, from Kachamba et al. 2016. 74 trees, DBH 5.3–111.2 cm. Listed on Tree Allometrics, a free library of tree allometric equations, each quoted from the source that published it.

## Equation

As printed in Kachamba et al. 2016 (Table 5):

> 3 74 0.290457 × dbh^2.283998 × ρ^0.443619 0.94

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#equation

In this library's units, ready to compute (aboveground biomass, without leaves in kg):

```
Aboveground biomass, without leaves = 0.290457 * D^2.283998 * rho^0.443619
```

Inputs: D = Diameter at breast height (1.3 m) (cm); rho = Wood density (oven-dry mass / green volume) (g/cm³).
The source's own form: 0.290457 * dbh^2.283998 * WD^0.443619, with dbh in cm, WD in g/cm3; output in kg.
Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#canonical

This total leaves out leaves (foliage), as the source defines it.

## What it covers

- Output: Aboveground biomass, without leaves, kg
- Taxon: Miombo woodland trees (mixed species); broadleaf
- Where: Miombo woodlands at Mtangatanga, Kongwe, Tsamba and Mua-livulezi, Malawi. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#where
- Biomes: tropical, dryland
- Stand: natural
- Trees measured: 74. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#n_trees
- DBH range: 5.3–111.2 cm. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#dbh
- Height range: 3–25 m. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#height
- R²: 0.94. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#r2
- Method: weighted nonlinear regression (SAS PROC MODEL); r2 is pseudo-R2. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#method
- Verification: read in the original source
- Last checked: 2026-11-01. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#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

Kachamba, D.J., Eid, T., Gobakken, T. (2016). Above- and Belowground Biomass Models for Trees in the Miombo Woodlands of Malawi. Forests, 7(2), 38.

- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f7020038
- Access: open access
- Copy we read: http://web.archive.org/web/20160828091649id_/http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/7/2/38/pdf
- Every equation from this source: https://treeallometry.org/sources/kachamba-2016/
- Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#source

## The facts, in the source's words

**Equation** (Table 5):

> 3 74 0.290457 × dbh^2.283998 × ρ^0.443619 0.94

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#equation

**Fit** (Table 2 (dbh and height ranges)):

> All 74 33.4 5.3 111.2 21.8 11.6 3.0 25.0 4.9

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#quote-fit

**Our note:** Fitted by weighted nonlinear regression, so no back-transform correction factor. Leaves were excluded from the biomass. ρ is species-mean wood specific gravity from the global wood density database.

## 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 = 20, rho = 0.7 | 232 | 232 | Computed from the printed form: hand-computed from the published form |
| D = 60, rho = 0.7 | 2,855 | 2,855 | Computed from the printed form: hand-computed from the published form |

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/#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: Kachamba, D.J., Eid, T., Gobakken, T. (2016). Above- and Belowground Biomass Models for Trees in the Miombo Woodlands of Malawi. Forests, 7(2), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7020038

Cite this page for the record and checks: Tree Allometrics (Restoration Scope), "Malawi miombo AGB, DBH and wood density (Model 3)", checked 2026-11-01, https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-agb-m3/. 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/kachamba-2016-agb-m3.json
Report a problem: email info@restorationscope.com with the equation id (kachamba-2016-agb-m3) and where the right value appears.