The Efficiency of Sampling Methods for Dendrometric Estimates of Thinned Stands of Pinus taeda L. in Santa Catarina, Brazil

This study aimed to compare the efficiency of the sampling methods: Fixed Area, Bitterlich, Prodan and Modified Prodan to estimate the commercial volume and other dendrometric estimators for a 34 years old of Pinus taeda L. stands located in Campo Belo do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It were distributed a total of 10 sample units of the following methods: Fixed Area with 200, 400 and 500 m² of area, Bitterlich, Prodan and Modified Prodan were distributed, both with 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 trees. In addition to collecting dendrometric data, the installation time of the sample units was timed, whereby the relative efficiency for each method was calculated. The comparison between the harvest volumes and the volumes estimated by the methods was performed by the Skott Knott test, and the results that did not differ statistically were weighted by the parameters of relative error, relative efficiency and proximity to harvest. All variations of the Modified Prodan and Prodan methods had sample insufficiency. The number of trees per hectare presented higher values for the 200 m² Fixed Area method and lower values for Prodan with 10 trees. Prodan with 6 trees got the shortest time. The Bitterlich method obtained sample adequancy at 10% error and presented the best result. Among the alternative methods to Fixed Area, Modified Prodan with 7 trees can be indicated for pilot inventory. However, when more precise results are needed, the Bitterlich method is indicated.