Simulation models for intesively managed southern pine plantations with a Microsoft Windows interface

• Main Author: Zhou, Bailin
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1997
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Forestry
• ISBN: 9780591692471; 0591692473

A series of simulation models were developed to accommodate growth and yield prediction, and economic evaluation for intensively managed southern pine plantations. The models are provided in a Microsoft$\sp\circler$ Windows$\sp\circler$ interface. Basic growth models for low levels of management are the foundation upon which the response to various intensive management treatments are added, such as fertilization, bedding, control of competition, thinning, and genotype improvement. The models have the flexibility to address current and future research achievements of growth and yield in southern pine plantations. Several treatment models were derived from existing treatment models for certain types of southern pine plantations with specified treatments, while a universal model was developed for any combination of treatments. New techniques for predicting growth and yield were developed, such as applying a tree list based on the size-class distribution to project a stand table. An algorithm for numerically solving a subset of one element equations via computer programming was developed. It is an efficient way to explicitly solve a high order or nonlinear one element equation when the function is strictly monotonic in a known interval on which there exists one and only one root. Object modeling techniques (OMT) were used to design an application for Microsoft$\sp\circler$ Windows$\sp\circler$. The application provides users an interface to easily input, save, and retrieve data. The output data of a simulation can be presented in various ways in multiple-windows. A multiple document interface (MDI) is used to accommodate multiple regimes of a simulation.