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Articles 11371 - 11400 of 302419

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Influence Of Growing Degree Days On Robinia Pseudoacacia Browse Quality And Productivity In The Southeastern Usa, L. J. Unruh Snyder, J. Paul Mueller, Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, K. E. Turner, C. Brownie Aug 2023

The Influence Of Growing Degree Days On Robinia Pseudoacacia Browse Quality And Productivity In The Southeastern Usa, L. J. Unruh Snyder, J. Paul Mueller, Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, K. E. Turner, C. Brownie

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The possibility of estimating browse quality and productivity of black locust (BL; Robinia pseudoacacia L.) herbage from accumulated air temperature heat units (growing degree days, GDD) could be a valuable tool for researchers and graziers in efficient allocation of feed resources. Accumulated air temperature heat units (GDD) above a 10° C base have been used to predict several forage quality constituents (Onstad & Fick ,1983).


Modelling Tiller Density Dynamics In A Grass Sward, Masahiko Hirata Aug 2023

Modelling Tiller Density Dynamics In A Grass Sward, Masahiko Hirata

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Simulation models are useful tools for grassland management. Among many quantitative and qualitative attributes describing vegetation of grasslands, density of plant population is important because of its close relationship with persistence of grasslands (Hirata, 2004), which in turn is crucial for sustainable agricultural production and/or conservation of the environment, wildlife and recreational resource. Although various models have described grassland vegetation, relatively few models have dealt with plant population density. This paper presents a model describing dynamics in tiller population density in a grass sward.


Leaf And Tiller Dynamics In Centipede Grass And Bahia Grass, M. A. Islam, Masahiko Hirata Aug 2023

Leaf And Tiller Dynamics In Centipede Grass And Bahia Grass, M. A. Islam, Masahiko Hirata

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.) is a warm-season perennial which has received the attention of farmers and researchers as a new forage resource for sown pastures in the low-altitude regions of south-western Japan where bahia grass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) has been widely used (Islam & Hirata, 2005). Leaf and tiller dynamics provide the basis to explain variation in production and canopy structure of a grass sward (Rhodes & Collins, 1993), and knowledge of the dynamics can be used as a tool for sward management. However, this information is lacking for centipede grass (Islam & Hirata, 2005). The …


Modelling Winter Grass Growth And Senescence, D. Hennessy, S. Laidlaw, M. O'Donovan, P. French Aug 2023

Modelling Winter Grass Growth And Senescence, D. Hennessy, S. Laidlaw, M. O'Donovan, P. French

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In temperate climates, because net grass growth in winter is low, most grass growth models deal with the main growing season (Mar-Oct in the N Hemisphere), with little emphasis on grass growth in winter (Nov-Feb). However, grass tissue turns over continuously (Hennessy et al., 2004) and the fate of herbage entering the winter is important in extended grazing season systems. This study aimed to model winter grass growth for the period 15 Oct 2001 to 28 Jan 2002 for a range of autumn closing dates (1 Sep, 20 Sep and 10 Oct) by modifying an existing model, so that …


Leaf Dry Matter Content Of Native Grassland Species Under Contrasting N And P Supply, P. Cruz, C. Jouany, Jérome M. Enjalbert, Michael Duru Aug 2023

Leaf Dry Matter Content Of Native Grassland Species Under Contrasting N And P Supply, P. Cruz, C. Jouany, Jérome M. Enjalbert, Michael Duru

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The management of native grasslands - herbaceous vegetation with a broad diversity of flora and a large range of uses - must meet the requirements of environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of agricultural production. For this purpose we need tools for diagnosing the state of the vegetation in order to design, evaluate, and apply management practices to attain these objectives. These tools must be simple and quick to use and should not require botanical skills. Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) has been proposed as a good indicator of both fertility gradients and species preference for habitats (Cruz et …


The Use Of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (Nirs) To Follow The Leaf/Stem Ratio Of Legumes During Drying, D. Stilmant, Virginie Decruyenaere, C. Clément, P. Dardenne, N. Grogna Aug 2023

The Use Of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (Nirs) To Follow The Leaf/Stem Ratio Of Legumes During Drying, D. Stilmant, Virginie Decruyenaere, C. Clément, P. Dardenne, N. Grogna

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Legume-rich mixed swards allow the production of a high quantity protein-rich forage with low nitrogen input. Nevertheless, during hay or silage making, dry matter losses as high as, 40 and 25 % have been recorded (Ciotti & Cavallero, 1979; Stilmant et al., 2004). These losses have mainly been linked to the high sensitivity to physical loss of legume leaves during drying. The development of a tool to characterise leaf losses or leaf/stem ratio during drying will help us to define the technical approach to reach the best compromise between quality loss reduction and good pre-wilting of legum-rich mixed swards. …


Near Infrared Spectroscopy Of Faeces To Predict Diet Quality In Grazing Animals: Development Of A Portable System, D. R. Tolleson, J. W. Stuth Aug 2023

Near Infrared Spectroscopy Of Faeces To Predict Diet Quality In Grazing Animals: Development Of A Portable System, D. R. Tolleson, J. W. Stuth

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Faecal near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) has been used to predict dietary crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM) in grazing animals (Stuth et al., 2003, Coates 2000). Development of robust FNIRS calibrations can be time consuming and costly, thus hindering the application of FNIRS in developing countries. Delivery of samples to central laboratory facilities is dependant upon adequate transportation infrastructure. A "take the laboratory to the samples" approach is being tested in Mongolia using a portable FNIRS laboratory (Stuth et al,. 2004). The initial step in this process is to duplicate the performance of a static laboratory …


Potentialities Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Assess Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium Nutrient Status Of Grasslands In The Reunion Island, Philippe Lecomte, Vincent Blanfort, Michael Duru, P. Thomas, P. Grimaud Aug 2023

Potentialities Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Assess Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium Nutrient Status Of Grasslands In The Reunion Island, Philippe Lecomte, Vincent Blanfort, Michael Duru, P. Thomas, P. Grimaud

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Controlled mineral fertilisation practices are an important component for sustainable management of grasslands. The assessment of available nutrients for plants and the general recommendations on the level of phosphorus and potassium to apply to grasslands are classically based on classical soil analysis and average regional levels. For nitrogen, mid or long term recommendations cannot easily be derived solely from soil composition, because it may be rapidly leached from the soil. Recent approaches tended to show that herbage plant N (Lemaire & Gastal, 1997), P, K (Duru & Huché, 1997) mineral analyses associated with actual biomass measurement could be useful for …


The Prediction Of Biological Nitrogen Fixation, C. F. E. Topp, C. A. Watson, R. M. Rees, I. Sanders Aug 2023

The Prediction Of Biological Nitrogen Fixation, C. F. E. Topp, C. A. Watson, R. M. Rees, I. Sanders

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In organic farming systems, biological nitrogen (N) fixation is crucial for short-term productivity and long-term sustainability. However, the estimation of biological N fixation is fraught with difficulties, and many equations attempt to estimate the process. As part of an organic research programme, biological N fixation was measured by the 15N dilution technique in the ley phases of 2 experimental organic ley-arable rotations at 2 sites, between 1997 and 2000. Hence, N fixation has been determined on N partitioned to above-ground biomass. The measured values have been compared with N fixation estimates calculated from the equations proposed by Korsaeth & …


Assessment Of The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (Nni) By The Nitrogen Concentration Of The Upper Part Of The Sward, B. Deprez, R. Lambert, A. Peeters Aug 2023

Assessment Of The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (Nni) By The Nitrogen Concentration Of The Upper Part Of The Sward, B. Deprez, R. Lambert, A. Peeters

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) is based on the concept of a critical nitrogen concentration, defined as the minimum N concentration in the aerial biomass necessary to obtain maximum yield. Values of Ncrit are high at the start of the growing period and decline during growth, in relation to dry matter accumulation (t DM/ha) according to the equation of Lemaire & Salette (1984): Ncrit(%) = 4.8(DM)-0.32. The NNI is calculated as the ratio of the actual N concentration of the sward to the N concentration required at a similar biomass to sustain non-limiting growth and biomass …


Compilation Of A Database Of Research Information On Legume Based Grazing Systems; A Part Of The Leggraze Research Project, J. J. Rochon, G. Molle, A. Hopkins, J. M. Greef Aug 2023

Compilation Of A Database Of Research Information On Legume Based Grazing Systems; A Part Of The Leggraze Research Project, J. J. Rochon, G. Molle, A. Hopkins, J. M. Greef

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The establishment of a publicly accessible web-resident database of published and current European research on agronomy, animal production and environmental impact of legume based grazing systems is reported. This database facilitates the sharing of information among the partners of the "Low input animal production based on forage legumes for grazing systems" (Leggraze), a research project funded by the UE (QL K5 CT-2001-02328). It also forms an important tool for transferring the results of the project to the wider research community and to end users in the agricultural sector and to policy makers at national and community level.


Forage Monitoring Technology To Improve Risk Management Decision Making By Herders In The Gobi Region Of Mongolia, Jay Angerer, J. W. Stuth, D. Tsogoo, G. Tolleson, Dennis Sheehy, U. Gombosuren, Sean Granville-Ross Aug 2023

Forage Monitoring Technology To Improve Risk Management Decision Making By Herders In The Gobi Region Of Mongolia, Jay Angerer, J. W. Stuth, D. Tsogoo, G. Tolleson, Dennis Sheehy, U. Gombosuren, Sean Granville-Ross

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In the period from 1999 to 2002, Mongolia experienced a series of droughts and severe winters that lowered livestock numbers by approximately 30% countrywide. In the Gobi region, livestock mortality reached 50% with many households losing entire herds (Siurua & Swift 2002). In March 2004, a program was initiated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Global Livestock Collaborative Research and Support Program (GLCRSP). The goal of this program is to develop forage monitoring technologies that provide early warning of drought and winter disaster to improve livestock herder decision making in the Gobi region. The program …


Modelling The Effect Of Breakeven Date In Spring Rotation Planner On Production And Profit Of A Pasture-Based Dairy System, P. C. Beukes, B. S. Thorrold, M. E. Wastney, C. C. Palliser, G. Levy, X. Chardon Aug 2023

Modelling The Effect Of Breakeven Date In Spring Rotation Planner On Production And Profit Of A Pasture-Based Dairy System, P. C. Beukes, B. S. Thorrold, M. E. Wastney, C. C. Palliser, G. Levy, X. Chardon

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The breakeven date is the expected date when pasture supply exceeds cow demand. This date is used to plan the rotation rates, slow during the winter, when pasture growth is low and cows are dry, to a fast rotation in spring, when growth is accelerating and most cows lactating. This date is influenced by regional climate, mainly rainfall and soil temperature, which affects timing and rate of growth acceleration. The objective of this modeling exercise was to explore the effect of the breakeven date on milksolids (MS), grass silage, farm cover and economic farm surplus (EFS) over different climate years …


Development Of A Model Simulating The Impact Of Management Strategies On Production From Beef Cattle Farming Systems Based On Permanent Pasture, M. Jouven, R. Baumont Aug 2023

Development Of A Model Simulating The Impact Of Management Strategies On Production From Beef Cattle Farming Systems Based On Permanent Pasture, M. Jouven, R. Baumont

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grazing systems in Europe increasingly have to meet environmental objectives, which influence management strategies. A deterministic model describing farming system dynamics is being developed in order to elucidate interactions between nature-friendly management practices, as for example late (after flowering) hay harvest or moderate stocking rate, and agricultural output.


Grasscheck: Monitoring And Predicting Grass Production In Northern Ireland, P. D. Barrett, A. S. Laidlaw Aug 2023

Grasscheck: Monitoring And Predicting Grass Production In Northern Ireland, P. D. Barrett, A. S. Laidlaw

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grass budgeting is a key management practice on dairy farms to balance grass supply on paddocks with grass demand by the grazing herd. Grass budgets must be pre-emptive to be effective. The uncertainty of grass production and the difficulty in quantifying both current and forecasted rates of growth hamper effective budgeting and paddock management. Grass growth rates are highly variable both in time and space. Therefore, they vary greatly between locations at any given time and also across the season at any given location. Figure 1 shows the pattern of growth rates recorded at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern …


A Farmer Friendly Feed Budget Calculator For Grazing Management Decisions In Winter And Spring, M. Curnow, M. W. Hyder Aug 2023

A Farmer Friendly Feed Budget Calculator For Grazing Management Decisions In Winter And Spring, M. Curnow, M. W. Hyder

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Western Australian (WA) environment is Mediterranean with annual legume/grass pastures and a 6 month growing season. In autumn where over grazing can impact pasture establishment and in spring, prior to senescence, when under grazing can mean significant losses of efficiency are crucial times for grazing management. Pasture utilisation is typically low (25-35%) due to conservative stocking regimes; key to increasing productivity is increasing pasture utilisation (Grimm, 1998). Increased level of productivity require farmer sophistication in the way they feed budget. To this end, satellite technology is being used to provide farmers in southern Australia with weekly estimates of pasture …


Feed Planning - Methods Used By “Expert” Farmers, D. I. Gray, W. J. Parker, E. A. Kemp, P. D. Kemp, I. M. Brookes, D. J. Horne, Paul R. Kenyon, C. Matthew, S. T. Morris, J. I. Reid, I. Valentine Aug 2023

Feed Planning - Methods Used By “Expert” Farmers, D. I. Gray, W. J. Parker, E. A. Kemp, P. D. Kemp, I. M. Brookes, D. J. Horne, Paul R. Kenyon, C. Matthew, S. T. Morris, J. I. Reid, I. Valentine

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Although formal feed planning has been heavily promoted in New Zealand, relatively few farmers have adopted this approach (Nuthall & Bishop-Hurley, 1999). Reasons for non-adoption have been identified, but little is known about how farmers manage their pastoral farms in the absence of formal feed planning. To this end, the feed management processes used by three successful (expert) farmers were investigated.


Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 1. Concept Of Real-Time Monitoring System And Estimation Of Biomass Using Noaa/Ndvi, T. Akiyama, K. Kawamura, H. Yokota, Z. Z. Chen Aug 2023

Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 1. Concept Of Real-Time Monitoring System And Estimation Of Biomass Using Noaa/Ndvi, T. Akiyama, K. Kawamura, H. Yokota, Z. Z. Chen

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Steppe grassland in Inner Mongolia, China, is threatened by desertification mainly because of overgrazing by animals. Grassland production varies from year to year and from place to place and is much affected by climate conditions and grazing intensity. The questions addressed in these three papers are the development of a real-time monitoring system to conserve the ecosystem whilst at the same time achieving sustainable livestock farming. The development of satellite sensors with remarkable resolution made it possible to provide precise, timely and site specific information on grassland. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and enhancement of accuracy of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) …


Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 2. Real-Time Monitoring Of Grass And Animal Interaction Using Satellite Data And Gps, K. Kawamura, T. Akiyama, H. Yokota, M. Inoue, Taisuke Yasuda, O. Watanabe, Y. Wang Aug 2023

Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 2. Real-Time Monitoring Of Grass And Animal Interaction Using Satellite Data And Gps, K. Kawamura, T. Akiyama, H. Yokota, M. Inoue, Taisuke Yasuda, O. Watanabe, Y. Wang

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Overgrazing is one of the primary causes of desertification in Inner Mongolia grassland. A previous paper estimated herbage quantity and quality (Kawamura et al., 2005), and quantified the grazing intensity on grass biomass using Terra MODIS satellite, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and GIS (Kawamura et al., 2003). The aim of this study is real-time monitoring of both grass biomass and animal behaviour to evaluate the effect of grazing intensity (GI) on grass growth rate during the growing season using Terra MODIS satellite and GPS.


Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 3. The Estimation Of Herbage Intake Of Sheep During Grazing The Natural Grassland, H. Yokota, K. Kawamura, T. Akiyama, M. Inoue, M. Kondo, K. Kita, Y. Wang Aug 2023

Grassland Monitoring System For Sustainable Utilisation In Inner Mongolia, China. 3. The Estimation Of Herbage Intake Of Sheep During Grazing The Natural Grassland, H. Yokota, K. Kawamura, T. Akiyama, M. Inoue, M. Kondo, K. Kita, Y. Wang

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grassland condition depends on a balance between growth rates of grasses and herbage intake by animals. In the previous two reports the general concept was described of the monitoring system using satellite data, GPS and GIS and real-time monitoring of grass biomass and quality and animal behaviour. This paper reports the estimation of herbage intake by sheep which had been raised by a farmer in the Inner Mongolia steppe under a typical grazing system with no supplement feeds except salt and also estimation of the growth rate of young sheep.


Using Geospatial Information Technologies To Identify Factors Affecting Grazing Distribution On Grasslands, W. H. Schacht, A. Guru, P. E. Reece, J. D. Volesky, D. C. Cotton Aug 2023

Using Geospatial Information Technologies To Identify Factors Affecting Grazing Distribution On Grasslands, W. H. Schacht, A. Guru, P. E. Reece, J. D. Volesky, D. C. Cotton

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The relationship between environmental and management factors and grazing livestock distribution is fundamental to understanding and improving grazing systems. With the advent of geospatial information technologies, global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) have been used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of quantifying the distribution of livestock grazing in response to various independent variables (Bailey et al., 2001). The specific objective of this project was to develop a tool that enables managers and students to identify and study the effect of management and environmental factors on grazing livestock distribution.


Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems In Southeastern Australia, C. J. P. Gourley, I. Awty, P. A. Durling, J. Collins, A. Melland, S. R. Aarons Aug 2023

Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems In Southeastern Australia, C. J. P. Gourley, I. Awty, P. A. Durling, J. Collins, A. Melland, S. R. Aarons

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Australian dairy industry is largely based on a grazed pasture system, although most cows also consume substantial amounts of imported feed (Fulkerson & Doyle 2001). This trend is expected to increase as the Australian dairy industry continues to intensify. Fertiliser inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are still viewed as necessary to maintain adequate pasture and milk production despite the fact that most dairy farms are in net positive balance for all of these nutrients (Reuter 2001). Nutrient losses from dairy farming regions and eutrophication of waterways has gained strong public and political attention …


Evaluation And Determination Of The Appropriate Method For Assessing Optimum Utilisation Rate Of Eurotia Ceratoides In Upland Grasslands Of Iran, Fazel Amiri, M. R. Chaichi Aug 2023

Evaluation And Determination Of The Appropriate Method For Assessing Optimum Utilisation Rate Of Eurotia Ceratoides In Upland Grasslands Of Iran, Fazel Amiri, M. R. Chaichi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Determination of optimum utilisation rate for different range species is an important factor in assessing range grazing capacity. The vast rangelands in Iran with diverse vegetation types require an accurate, economic and quick method to determine the optimum utilisation rate for different range species. This experiment was conducted to determine the most appropriate method to determine the optimum utilisation rate for Eurotia ceratoides, which is one of the important grass species in upland grasslands in Iran.


The Use Of Digital Imagery For The Assessment Of Green Biomass In Native Pastures, A. F. Southwell, G. Mckenzie, James M. Virgona, A. M. Ridley, P. Ederback Aug 2023

The Use Of Digital Imagery For The Assessment Of Green Biomass In Native Pastures, A. F. Southwell, G. Mckenzie, James M. Virgona, A. M. Ridley, P. Ederback

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A practice common to pasture research is the assessment of green leaf. In Australia, where the water use of plants is becoming an increasingly important issue due largely to its implications for dryland salinity, it is imperative that accurate and repeatable methods for characterising the amount of green leaf in pastures be used. The assessment of green leaf has been approached in many ways in the past with varying degrees of success and accuracy. The most accurate way is to physically harvest an area of pasture and separate the green component to make the relevant measurements. For many situations, this …


A Simple Theoretical Model For Calculating Agricultural Value Of Grasslands, G. Nagy Aug 2023

A Simple Theoretical Model For Calculating Agricultural Value Of Grasslands, G. Nagy

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In spite of the emerging new social demands for non-material grassland products and services (nature reservation, environmental protection, landscape and amenity), the productivity of grasslands is going to remain in the mainstream of overall grassland use in many regions and countries of the world. Strategic planning of future grassland use in a region needs reliable information on the agricultural value of grasslands. The purpose of our research programme was to find a model for calculating the agricultural value of grasslands, in order to assist the classification of grassland productivity for a given area.


The Role Of Proper Use Factor Model For The Prediction Of Available Forage In Rangeland In The South Of Iran, G. R. Badjian, I. Dahlan, M. Shahwahid H. O., A. A. Mehrabi Aug 2023

The Role Of Proper Use Factor Model For The Prediction Of Available Forage In Rangeland In The South Of Iran, G. R. Badjian, I. Dahlan, M. Shahwahid H. O., A. A. Mehrabi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In Iran, 80 to 90% of the livestock production is associated with rangeland but 48% of the rangeland has been classified as in poor condition (Farahpour, 2002). Available Forage (AF) is that portion of the forage production accessible for use by a specified kind or class of grazing animal. Estimates of AF by plant species, consumption by the animal, and the contribution of the forage to the animal's diet must be synchronised with each other in the same time frame (Valentine, 2001). The Proper Use Factor (PUF) is the degree of utilisation of current year's growth of the vegetation that, …


Assessment And Monitoring Of Grazing Lands In The Northeastern United States, M. A. Sanderson, Sarah C. Goslee, J. B. Cropper, R. B. Bryant Aug 2023

Assessment And Monitoring Of Grazing Lands In The Northeastern United States, M. A. Sanderson, Sarah C. Goslee, J. B. Cropper, R. B. Bryant

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Pasture Condition Score System (Cosgrove et al., 2001) was developed as a monitoring and management tool on grazing lands The system considers 10 indicators of soils, plants, and animals including percent desirable plants, plant cover, plant diversity, plant residue, plant vigor, percent legume, uniformity of use, livestock concentration areas, soil compaction, and soil erosion. The indicators are assigned a score according to detailed criteria and the scores are summed to give an overall score for a pasture, or relevant grazing unit. The score is then interpreted, indicating if some type of management change or treatment is necessary. We …


On-Farm Information: A Valuable Tool For The Sustainable Management Of Mountain Pastures In Protected Natural Areas, N. Mandaluniz, A. Bernués, A. Igarzabal, I. J. L. Riedel, R. Ruiz, A. Sanz, I. Casasús, L. M. Oregui Aug 2023

On-Farm Information: A Valuable Tool For The Sustainable Management Of Mountain Pastures In Protected Natural Areas, N. Mandaluniz, A. Bernués, A. Igarzabal, I. J. L. Riedel, R. Ruiz, A. Sanz, I. Casasús, L. M. Oregui

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Mountain pastures have traditionally been maintained by livestock. The analysis of data concerning farms' characteristics, productive-reproductive management and land use of commercial farms can constitute a real approach to study these systems and the changes that are occurring. This information is necessary to develop new utilisation guidelines, making compatible livestock production and conservation of natural resources. This paper describes a methodological framework to study the issues described above through some examples taken out from a wider research project (Mandaluniz et al., 2003).


Using Landsat Imagery To Analyse Land Cover Change In The Njoro Watershed, Kenya, T. J. Baldyga, S. N. Miller, K. L. Driese, C. Maina-Gichaba Aug 2023

Using Landsat Imagery To Analyse Land Cover Change In The Njoro Watershed, Kenya, T. J. Baldyga, S. N. Miller, K. L. Driese, C. Maina-Gichaba

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In developing nations where resources are scarce and increased population pressures create stress on available resources, methods are needed to examine effects of human migration and resultant changes in land cover. Widespread availability and low cost of remotely sensed imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are making such methods a reality to develop quantitative resource mapping and land cover change detection in developing nations (Sheng et al., 1997). However, difficulties arise in tropical regions when trying to analyse traditional vegetation bands (Bands 3 and 4), or indices such as NDVI because saturated pixels limit spectral distinction.


Forage Suitability Group Report: A Tool For Grassland Management, James B. Cropper, G. L. Peacock Aug 2023

Forage Suitability Group Report: A Tool For Grassland Management, James B. Cropper, G. L. Peacock

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Forage suitability groups (FSG's) are USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) interpretative reports used to develop conservation plans for forage-producing farms and ranches and provide grassland resource information to producers. These electronic reports use soil properties and climatic data to develop forage selection, management recommendations, seasonal distribution of growth, and yield potentials for groups of soil map unit components that have like agronomic characteristics. The information contained in a FSG report can help the user develop proper livestock-forage balances, grazing management plans, pasture and haycrop renovation options, and land treatment measures.