Full text of this article is only available in PDF format.

Desta Fekedulegn (email), Mairitin P. Mac Siurtain, Jim J. Colbert

Parameter estimation of nonlinear growth models in forestry

Fekedulegn D., Mac Siurtain M. P., Colbert J. J. (1999). Parameter estimation of nonlinear growth models in forestry. Silva Fennica vol. 33 no. 4 article id 653. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.653

Abstract

Partial derivatives of the negative exponential, monomolecular, Mitcherlich, Gompertz, logistic, Chapman-Richards, von Bertalanffy, Weibull and the Richard’s nonlinear growth models are presented. The application of these partial derivatives in estimating the model parameters is illustrated. The parameters are estimated using the Marquardt iterative method of nonlinear regression relating top height to age of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) from the Bowmont Norway Spruce Thinning Experiment. Formulas that provide good initial values of the parameters are specified. Clear definitions of the parameters of the nonlinear models in the context of the system being modelled are found to be critically important in the process of parameter estimation.

Keywords
parameter estimation; nonlinear model; partial derivative; Marquardt iterative method; initial value

Author Info
  • Fekedulegn, Department of Statistics, West Virginia University, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, P.O. Box 6330, Morgantown, WV26506, USA E-mail fdesta@stat.wvu.edu (email)
  • Mac Siurtain, University College Dublin, Ireland E-mail mpms@nn.ie
  • Colbert, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Morgantown, West Virginia E-mail jjc@nn.us

Received 9 February 1998 Accepted 5 November 1999 Published 31 December 1999

Views 4209

Available at https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.653 | Download PDF

Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0

Register
Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.
Log in
If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.
Contents alert
Sign up to receive alerts of new content

Your selected articles
Your search results
Fekedulegn D., Mac Siurtain M. P. et al. (1999) Parameter estimation of nonlinear growth models .. Silva Fennica vol. 33 no. 4 article id 653