(Introduction):

The combination of timber trees with agricultural crops has many advantages at the farm level, especially when the species used have high commercial value.

(Objective):

Evaluate the growth of Spanish cedar (C. odorata) in coffee agroforestry systems using dasometric characterization and allometric models to predict the tree’s total and commercial volume.

(Methodology):

A total of 140 1000 m2 temporary rectangular plots were established with one to 20-year-old cedar trees; in addition, the diameter of tree each at 1.3 m (DBH), total height (Ht), and commercial height (Hc) was measured. A total of 14 models were generated to predict total volume per tree using DBH, age, and height: for the set of ages (1 to 20 years) and ranges (every five years). A commercial volume model was also generated based on DBH and other elements connecting the other variables.

(Results):

The general model predicts a total volume based on DBH with an R2= 0.99, while models by age range obtained an R2 greater than 0.95. The coefficient of determination of the commercial volume model was 0.79.

(Conclusions):

Both the general model and the rank model successfully predict volume; however, the rank model better estimates the total volume between 11 and 16 years of age, while the general model is more recommended for the rest of the ages.