Liczba i wielkość jednostek próbnych do pomiaru leżących martwych drzew metodą liniową

The line intersect method is recommended for coarse woody debris (CWD) inventories. This is due to the fact that for the CWD volume estimation with the assumed standard error (SE), the total time of measurements using line sampling units is shorter than when using the fixed−area sample units. The aim of the research was to determine: (1) the number and size of sample units whose use will allow achieving the assumed SE of the CWD volume estimation, and (2) dependence of this number and size of sample units on the quantity of CWD. The research material was collected from 131 sample units (sampling lines) with a length of 50.48 m each. They were systematically located in the stands (128 ha) on Bukowa Góra in the Roztocze National Park (south−east Poland). Data concerning the intersection points of the sampling line (in relation to its beginning) with the axis of a downed log, made it possible to simulate the measurement using shorter sampling lines (4, 8, …, 44 m) than the original ones. The simulation was performed using the original data (when the average CWD volume was 73 m3/ha), which also represented an inventory unit in which the CWD volume accounted for 10, 40 and 70% of the original value. These data were obtained by a random elimination of the appropriate portion of trees. The relationship between the single−tree−plot coefficient of variation (calculated for such a size of a sample unit which on average contains only one log) and the length of the sampling line was determined (figs. 2 and 3). On this basis the number of sample units necessary to obtain the assumed SE value of the target variable was determined (tab. 1). Using the data on labour consumption of individual measurement operations, the total working time was calculated for such a number of sample units that would guarantee obtaining the assumed SE of the CWD volume estimation (tab. 2). The total time of measurements was longer in an inventory unit with scarcer CWD resources (figs. 5 and 6). The optimal (due to the time of measurements needed to achieve the assumed SE of the CWD volume estimation) line length occurred within the range of 4−150 m. The use of sample units with a length of 60−150 m each was recommended in forests with the average CWD volume over 30 m3/ha, and with a length of 150−200 m in forest with sparser CWD resources.