# Malawi miombo belowground biomass, DBH only (Model 1)

Root biomass equation for Miombo woodland trees, Malawi, from Kachamba et al. 2016. 41 trees. 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):

> Belowground 1 41 0.284615 × dbh^1.992658 0.94

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#equation

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

```
Root biomass = 0.284615 * D^1.992658
```

Inputs: D = Diameter at breast height (1.3 m) (cm).
The source's own form: 0.284615 * dbh^1.992658, with dbh in cm; output in kg.
Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#canonical

## What it covers

- Output: Root biomass, 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-bgb-m1/#where
- Biomes: tropical, dryland
- Stand: natural
- Trees measured: 41. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#n_trees
- R²: 0.94. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#r2
- Method: weighted nonlinear regression (SAS PROC MODEL); r2 is pseudo-R2. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#method
- Verification: read in the original source
- Last checked: 2026-11-01. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#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-bgb-m1/#source

## The facts, in the source's words

**Equation** (Table 5):

> Belowground 1 41 0.284615 × dbh^1.992658 0.94

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#equation

**Our note:** Fitted by weighted nonlinear regression; no correction factor.

## 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 | 111 | 111 | Computed from the printed form: hand-computed from the published form |

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/#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 belowground biomass, DBH only (Model 1)", checked 2026-11-01, https://treeallometry.org/equations/kachamba-2016-bgb-m1/. 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-bgb-m1.json
Report a problem: email info@restorationscope.com with the equation id (kachamba-2016-bgb-m1) and where the right value appears.