Estimation of above-ground biomass in naturally occurring populations of Prosopis pallida (H.& B. ex. Willd.) HBK in the north of Peru

Above-ground biomass of Prosopis pallida (H. & B. ex. Willd.) H.B.K. trees were estimated in two naturally occurring populations in the north of Peru. A total of 17 trees with diameters at the base between 12 and 48 cm were measured by destructive methods. Allometric equations were developed between the dasometric variables of the trees and their biomasses. The obtained results show a very high correlation between the above-ground fresh woody biomass (r = 0.97, r(2) = 0.941 and P = 0.000) and the above-ground dry woody biomass (r = 0.9573, r(2) = 0.9164 and P = 0.000), with the diameters of the tree base. The equations with the highest level of significance were multiplicative: x =(diameter of the tree base)(2) x (total height). (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.