The woody biomass resource of East Texas, 1992

Abstract

Data from the 1992 east Texas forest survey were used to derive fresh and dry biomass estimates for all trees, on timberland, greater than 1.0 inch in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.1. There are 382.2 million fresh tons in softwood species and 492.9 million fresh tons in hardwood species. The woody biomass resource averages 43.2 and 45.4 tons per acre for softwoods and hardwoods where they occur, respectively. Most of this biomass is in the stem portion of the trees-84 percent for softwoods and 74 percent for hardwoods. Nonindustrial private landowners hold 56 and 71 percent of the total softwood and hardwood biomass resource, respectively. OwnershipNonindustrial private owners have 566.0 million fresh tons of biomass (295.1 million dry tons) (appendix 4, fig. 4). This is 65 percent of the total forest resource. Forest industry holds 222.0 million fresh tons (115.3 million dry tons). The remaining 87.2 million fresh tons is in the public domain. Forest m eThe loblolly-shortleaf pine forest type has 336.3 million fresh tons of biomass (488.8 million dry tons), followed by 183.7, 172.8, and 165.9 million fresh tons in the oak-pine, oak-hickory, and bottomland hardwood types (94.4, 92.2, and 91.0 million dry tons), respectively. These three forest types collectively account for 98 percent of all fresh weight biomass (appendix 4, fig. 5). The remaining 2 percent of fresh biomass is in the longleaf-slash pine type. Diameter ClassA major portion of the State's biomass is in trees 2 7.0 and <17.0 inches in d.b.h. Trees in this diameter class account for 462.2 million fresh tons (239.4 million dry tons). These diameter classes account for 53 percent of the total biomass resource (appendix 4, fig. 6). Tree ClassThere are 665.9 million fresh tons (267.9 million dry tons) of biomass in growing-stock trees 25.0 inches in d.h.h. (appendix 4, fig. 7). Rough and rotten trees account for 104.4 million fresh tons (39.1 million dry tons) of biomass. Salvable dead trees account for only 3.2 million fresh tons, less than one-half of 1 percent of the total biomass resource. SpeciesThe predominant tree species in east Texas is loblolly pine, with 272.6 million fresh tons (135.4 million dry tons) of biomass. Shortleaf pine ranked second in dominance, with 84.7 million fresh tons (41.1 million dry tons), followed closely by sweetgum, with 80.6 million fresh tons (38.6 million dry tons). Together, these three species account for 50 percent of the State's fresh weight biomass.

Forest resources of east Texas, 1992

“…biomass was in the stem component (359.3 million dry tons or 79 percent). [See Rosson (1993) for a more detailed analysis of the woody biomass on east Texas timberland. ]…”

“…Several publications about the sixth east Texas survey are already available: two forest survey unit reports others 1992a, 1992b), a county statistical report (Miller and Hartsell 1992), and a biomass report (Rosson 1993). Additionally, data are available on the FIA Web site http:// www.srsfia.usfs.msstate.edu.…”

Texas' forests, 2008

“…The first forest reports of east Texas were for the 1935 survey (Cruikshank 1938, Cruikshank andEldredge 1939). (Sternitzke 1967a(Sternitzke , 1967b, 1975 (Murphy 1976), 1986(McWilliams and Lord 1988, 1992 (Rosson 2000), and 2003 (Rudis and others 2008).…”