Confidence Interval for Site Index Using Curves Based on Stem Analyses
A method was described for the derivation of confidence intervals for site index using site-index curves based on stem analyses. The method allows assessment of effects on index estimates due to stand age, index level, sample size of heights used in entering the curves, index age, and sample size underlying the curves. Of these effects, the first three were evaluated for a set of curves based on stem analyses of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) and on index age of 50 years at breast height (BH). With sample averages of 20 heights, about 95% of index estimates were within ±5 ft (1.52 m) of the true value in spruce 25–100 years old at BH on both average quality and extreme quality sites. To ensure this precision in spruce younger than 15 years at BH, 50 heights were required on the average sites and more than 50 on extreme sites.