Publication Date
1993
Description
This paper explains the concepts and method behind the identification and use of key grass species for the development of user friendly techniques for the assessment of range conditions. A database comprising the frequency of 90 grass species and associated environmental factors from 712 sample sites was used to identify 19 key grass species. Stepwise multiple regression and Detrended Correspondence Analyses (DCA) were used for this purpose. The key species accounted for 90% of the variation in forage production potential and 90% of the variation in the 2 environmental gradients identified in the ordinations. Models were created to predict forage production potential and the position of a site in ordination space using the key species. The models were tested with independent data and yielded highly significant results (P<0.0 I and R2>0.9). The results corroborate the concept of key species in the assessment of range condition.
Citation
Beckerling, Andrew C. and Trollope, Winston W., "Identification and Use of Key Grass Species in the Assessment of Range Condition in South Africa" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 27.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session52/27
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Identification and Use of Key Grass Species in the Assessment of Range Condition in South Africa
This paper explains the concepts and method behind the identification and use of key grass species for the development of user friendly techniques for the assessment of range conditions. A database comprising the frequency of 90 grass species and associated environmental factors from 712 sample sites was used to identify 19 key grass species. Stepwise multiple regression and Detrended Correspondence Analyses (DCA) were used for this purpose. The key species accounted for 90% of the variation in forage production potential and 90% of the variation in the 2 environmental gradients identified in the ordinations. Models were created to predict forage production potential and the position of a site in ordination space using the key species. The models were tested with independent data and yielded highly significant results (P<0.0 I and R2>0.9). The results corroborate the concept of key species in the assessment of range condition.
