Publication Date
1993
Description
Because most water quality objectives are set at the watershed level, it is important to determine hydrologic characteristics of land units within watersheds and predict the impact of land uses and treatments on watershed outputs. Rangeland hydrology research indicates that vegetative cover and biomass are reliable indicators of sediment production from uplands, The Residual Dry Matter (RDM) technique (Clawson et al. 1980} is a proven method of assessing standing crop biomass. This technique is easily learned and observer independent. After one training session, observers were able to estimate accurately (R2>0.90) the amount of biomass on the soil surface. RDM provides a good indication (R2>0.75) of cover when vegetation is dominated by annual grasses and above-ground biomass is 500•1500 kg/ha. This type of information is valuable when using large-scale watershed models to predict the impact of changes in land use and treatments on water quality.
Citation
Brown, J R.; Cocke, M; and Steffen, L, "Refining a Residual Dry Matter Technique for Assessing Standing Biomass estimates in grazed Mediterranean Ecosystems" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session10/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Refining a Residual Dry Matter Technique for Assessing Standing Biomass estimates in grazed Mediterranean Ecosystems
Because most water quality objectives are set at the watershed level, it is important to determine hydrologic characteristics of land units within watersheds and predict the impact of land uses and treatments on watershed outputs. Rangeland hydrology research indicates that vegetative cover and biomass are reliable indicators of sediment production from uplands, The Residual Dry Matter (RDM) technique (Clawson et al. 1980} is a proven method of assessing standing crop biomass. This technique is easily learned and observer independent. After one training session, observers were able to estimate accurately (R2>0.90) the amount of biomass on the soil surface. RDM provides a good indication (R2>0.75) of cover when vegetation is dominated by annual grasses and above-ground biomass is 500•1500 kg/ha. This type of information is valuable when using large-scale watershed models to predict the impact of changes in land use and treatments on water quality.
