Determination of Sample Size for Estimating the Volume of Eucalyptus in an Agro-Forestry Situation

In estimating the growing stock of Eucalyptus in an Agro-forestry system, the problem of optimum sample size, which should provide an accurate estimate of the population characteristic is often felt. The size to be chosen depends upon the variability in the population characteristic and the tolerable margin of error which could be permitted between the estimate of the population characteristic as provided by the sample estimate and the true population value. It has been empirically seen that although variability is not uniform for a given population characteristic from place to place and for varying ages, the coefficient of variation remains fairly stable for populations of differing locations and ages. This fact helps, through statistical theory. in obtaining Ihe optimum sample size. In the present study, the sample size to be taken for volume estimation, at different levels of margin of error, has been determined in respect of five Eucalyptus plantations in Haryana based on the population coefficient of variation.