Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) allometry for above-ground biomass and fiber production

An allometric measurement of abaca is an important approach in estimating the above-ground biomass and fiber yield data indirectly. Regression equations using the different parameters in estimating the various productivity indicators were developed and validated. At the development stage, almost all of the allometric measurements of the pseudostem in which the top circumference, as predictor, showed the highest r value of 0.9917, 0.9888, and 0.9917 and is highly correlated to the above-ground fresh weight, above-ground dry weight, and pseudostem fresh weight of abaca, respectively. However, validation test using the base circumference revealed that the above-ground fresh weight, above-ground dry weight, pseudostem fresh weight, and fiber weight did not differ significantly between the actual and estimated mean values. Thus, the following relationships, y = 44.7284/1 + 294.0069e(-0.1149x), y = 5.1164/1 + 1343.02e(-0.1550x), y = 41.9196/1 + 248.4783e(-0.1045x), and y = 758.34/1 + 159.1403e(-0.0889x) can be employed for the determination of above-ground fresh weight, above-ground dry weight, pseudostem fresh weight, and fiber weight, respectively using the base circumference as a predictor or x variable. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.