Desta Fekedulegn 
,
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
-
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
- 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
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