Abstract Burkhart's (1977) approach for direct estimation of volume to any top diameter limit was to develop merchantable volume to total volume ratio prediction equations and multiply the equations by companion total tree volume equations. When volumes are expressed in cubic units, the merchantable volume equations can be converted to merchantable height prediction equations. This study applied Burkhart's approach to the estimation of merchantable volume and height of natural grown slash pine ( Pinus elliottii Engelm.). Constraints imposed on the estimating equations prevented the illogical crossing of merchantable volume/height curves commonly observed for independently derived merchantable volume/height curves. The merchantable volume estimating equations were fitted to the data to optimize volume predictions, and thus volume estimates should tend to be better than those obtained indirectly by the integration of taper curves. Forest Sci. 28:274-282.
Matney et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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