The potential of Weibull-type functions as flexible growth curves

Abstract

A new growth function, which is flexible enough in shape to accommodate most biological growth behavior, is created by adding an expanding factor to the Weibull distribution function. Many monotonically increasing biological growth phenomena can be excellently modelled by this function with various numerical values for the scale, the shape, and the upper asymptote parameters. The function is illustrated with height–age and volume–age curves for single trees and two polymorphic stand volume–age curves.