Abstract
We discuss here methods of comparing various approaches to site-dependent height–age model-parameter estimation. The discussion emphasis is on proper analysis of the varying parameter (VP) method versus several variants of the algebraic difference methods including one with the error in variable (EIV) theory adaptation. The study has demonstrated that, when properly considered, the VP method consistently outperforms all the other methods including the EIV method. The EIV method was tested on data with known “true model” and drastically simplified errors, and had a root mean square error (RMSE) more than 10 times worse than the VP method. All the other methods produced drastically and uniquely differing results with RMSEs varying from 26 times greater than the VP method to 300 times greater. The patterns of relatively close similarity between the EIV and the VP methods and the large differing among the other methods was similar for fittings to real data of second-rotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) from a designed experiment. The VP method is recommended for use over all the other methods as the most unbiased and as much simpler than the EIV method, which was second best.