This study aimed to map the stem biomass of an even-aged eucalyptus plantation in southeastern Brazil based on canopy height profile (CHPs) statistics using wall-to-wall discrete return airborne laser scanning (ALS), and compare the results with alternative maps generated by ordinary kriging interpolation from field-derived measurements. The assessment of stem biomass with ALS data was carried out using regression analysis methods. Initially, CHPs were determined to express the distribution of laser point heights in the ALS cloud for each sample plot. The probability density function (pdf) used was the Weibull distribution, with two parameters that in a secondary task, were used as explanatory variables to model stem biomass. ALS metrics such as height percentiles, dispersion of heights, and proportion of points were also investigated. A simple linear regression model of stem biomass as a function of the Weibull scale parameter showed high correlation (adj.R2 = 0.89). The alternative model considering the 30th percentile and the Weibull shape parameter slightly improved the quality of the estimation (adj.R2 = 0.93). Stem biomass maps based on the Weibull scale parameter doubled the accuracy of the ordinary kriging approach (relative root mean square error = 6 % and 13 %, respectively).

O objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar equações para estimar o carbono presente no fuste de árvores individuais de eucalipto e o estoque de carbono, por unidade de área, em diferentes condições de plantio. Para isso, foram utilizadas 532 árvores para ajustar a equação referente ao modelo alométrico de Schumacher e Hall (1933) e 95 parcelas permanentes para ajustar as equações referentes aos modelos de crescimento e produção, incluindo as seguintes variáveis independentes: idade (I), área basal (B) e índice de local (S). Após as análises, verificou-se que as equações se ajustaram bem aos dados observados, fornecendo estimativas precisas.

The objective of this work was to adjust equations to estimate carbon in the stems of individual eucalyptus trees and carbon stock, by unit of area, in different planting conditions. For that, 532 trees were used to adjust the allometric model of Schumacher and Hall (1933) and 95 permanent plots to adjust equations related to growth and yield models, including the following independent variables: age (I), basal area (B) and site index (S). The analyses showed that the equations adjusted well to the observed data, providing accurate estimates.