Track 05-1: Application of Information Technology in Monitoring and Managing Grasslands/Rangelands Resources

The XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008.
Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference
Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House

XXI International Grassland Congress/
VIII International Rangeland Congress:
Application of Information Technology in Monitoring and Managing Grasslands/Rangelands Resources

Information Technologies for Rangeland Monitoring: What Do They Need to Address?

David D. Briske, Texas A&M University
Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Maria Fernandez‐Gimenez, Colorado State University
Mark Stafford‐Smith, CSIRO, Australia

Information Technologies for Rangeland Monitoring: What Is Available and What Will Be Available in the Future?

Craig D. James, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
M. R. C. Ashley, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
G. N. Bastin, CSIRO, Australia
A. J. Bubb, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Australia

Can Pastures from SpaceTM Accurately Predict Pasture Growth Rate in Eastern Australia?

Nicholas J. Edwards, SARDI, Australia
E. A. Abraham, SARDI, Australia
G. Mata, CSIRO, Australia
G. Donald, CSIRO, Australia
S. G. Gherardi, CSIRO, Australia

The Regional Ecology of Alternative States and Thresholds: Strategies for Ecological Site Descriptions

Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
A. J. Tugel, U.S. Department of Agriculture
G. Peacock, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Daniel G. Robinett, Robinett Rangeland Resources L.L.C.
David D. Briske, Texas A&M University
T. K. Stringham, Oregon State University
P. L. Shaver, U.S. Department of Agriculture
J. R. Brown, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jeffrey E. Herrick, U.S. Department of Agriculture
H. Sanchez, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Kris M. Havstad, U.S. Department of Agriculture

High Resolution Satellite Imagery and GPS Collars Can Help Assist in the Assessment of Patch Selection by Grazing Cattle in Semi‐Arid Savannas

Christopher Holloway, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia
Peter J. O'Reagain, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia
Nigel Tomkins, CSIRO, Australia

A Model‐Based Approach for Mapping Rangeland Cover Using Landsat‐TM Image Data

Majid Ajorlo, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Ramdzani B. Abdullah, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Remote Sensing with GIS and GPS for Monitoring Steppe Degradation

T. Akiyama, Gifu University, Japan
K. Kawamura, National Institute of Agro‐Environmental Sciences, Japan
H. Yokota, Nagoya University, Japan

Verification of a Forage Simulation Model Used for a Livestock Early Warning System in the Gobi Region of Mongolia

Jay Peter Angerer, Texas A&M University
L. Bolor‐Erdene, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
M. Urgamal, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
D. Tsogoo, Mercy Corps, Mongolia

National Rangeland Monitoring and Inventory of Iran

Hossein Arzani, University of Tehran, Iran
M. Azimi
H. Kaboli, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran, Iran
Mehdi Farahpour, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran, Iran

Application of Digital Data for Grassland Monitoring in Northern Iran

Hossein Arzani, University of Tehran, Iran
S. Noori, Tarbiyat Modares University, Iran
S. H. Kaboli, University of Tehran, Iran
H. R. Moradii, Tarbiyat Modares University, Iran
H. Ghelichnia, Research Center of Agriculture and Natural Resource of Mazandaran Province, Iran

21st Century Pastoralism--Remote Management Innovations for Sustainability in Arid Rangeland Pastoral Production

M. R. C. Ashley, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
A. J. Bubb, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Adrian R. James, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Craig D. James, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
C. H. James, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Australia

Localization of Range Improvement Plans Using GIS and Comparing with Suggested Projects of Range Management Plans in Lar Region

Hossein Azarnivand, University of Tehran, Iran
R. Namjoyan, University of Tehran, Iran
Hossein Arzani, University of Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Jafari, University of Tehran, Iran
M. A. Zare Chahouki, University of Tehran, Iran

Developing a Decision Support Tool for the Steppe Zone of Ghom‐Iran, by Implementing a State and Transition Model within a Bayesian Belief Network

H. Bashari, University of Tehran, Iran
C. S. Smith, University of Tehran, Iran
O. J. H. Bosch, University of Tehran, Iran

Monitoring Urine Distribution by Grazing Livestock

Keith Betteridge, AgResearch, New Zealand
Coby J. Hoogendoorn, AgResearch, New Zealand
Wendy Griffiths, AgResearch, New Zealand
Des A. Costall, AgResearch, New Zealand
Mark Carter, AgResearch, New Zealand
Patrick Laube, University of Melbourne, Australia

Terrain Analysis and Digital Soil Mapping in the Xilin River Catchment, Inner Mongolia

Benjamin Blank, Justus-Liebig‐University of Giessen, Germany
Frauke Barthold, Justus-Liebig‐University of Giessen, Germany
Thomas Lendvaczky, Ingenieurbuero Feldwisch, Germany
Lutz Breuer, Justus-Liebig‐University of Giessen, Germany
Hans-Georg Frede, Justus-Liebig‐University of Giessen, Germany

Gobi Forage: An Early Warning System for Livestock in the Gobi Region of Mongolia

L. Bolor-Erdene, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
Jay Peter Angerer, Texas A&M University
Sean Granville-Ross, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
M. Urgamal, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
D. Narangarel, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
D. Tsogoo, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
Tim Stewart, Mercy Corps, Mongolia
Dennis Sheehy, Texas A&M University

Image‐Based Rangeland Monitoring at Multiple Scales

D. T. Booth, U.S. Department of Agriculture
A. S. Laliberte, Jornada Experimental Range
A. Rango, Jornada Experimental Range
J. E. Herrick, Jornada Experimental Range

Hand Held Computers Improve Rangeland Health Data Collection and Analysis

Matthew Braun, Ministry of Forests and Range, Canada
N. Elliot, Ministry of Forests and Range, Canada
A. Pantel, Ministry of Forests and Range, Canada

Estimating the Dry Matter of Grasses and Shrubs in Semi-Arid Zones Using Visible and Near‐Infrared Wavelengths Recorded by High Resolution Aerial Photographs

Andreas Buerkert, University of Kassel, Germany
Stefan Siebert, University of Frankfurt, Germany
Bruno Gérard, ICRISAT, Germany
Wolfgang Schaeper, ICRISAT, Germany
Marco Buschmann, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany

Husbandry of Free‐Ranging Cows Using Virtual Fencing Concepts

Dean M. Anderson, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Daniela Rus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Carrick Detweiler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mac Schwager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Iuliu Vasilescu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Beef Cattle on Mediterranean Rangeland

Amit Dolev, Northern R&D, Israel
Eugene D. Ungar, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
Zalmen Henkin, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel

Areas of Distribution of Cultivated and Wild‐Growing Forage Plants in Electronic "Atlas of Economic Plants and Their Diseases, Pests and Weeds of Russia and Neighboring Countries"

N. I. Dzyubenko, Russian Academy of Agricultural Science, Russia
E. A. Dzyubenko, Russian Academy of Agricultural Science, Russia
L. L. Malyshev, Russian Academy of Agricultural Science, Russia

Height‐Weight Profiles of Two Key Species to Assess Utilization of Grasslands in Boroujen, Iran

Ataollah Ebrahimi, Shahrekord University, Iran

Using GIS and Geostatistics to Study Spatial Variation of Soil Test Phosphorus in Grassland

Weijun Fu, Teagasc, Ireland
H. Tunney, Teagasc, Ireland
C. Zhang, Department of Geography, Ireland

Silvopastoral Systems: Estimation of Understory Winter Grass Productivity by Remote Sensing

L. Granieri, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
P. Cornaglia, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
R. A. Golluscio, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
M. Oesterheld, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Application of Remote Sensing to Ecosystem Health Assessment in Temperate Rangelands

Xulin Guo, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Guodong Han, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China
Xiaohui Yang, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Mengli Zhao, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China

Alfalfa Suitability Zone Mapping Using Climatic and Soils Spatial Data and Quantitative Plant Tolerances

David B. Hannaway, Oregon State University
Christopher Daly, Oregon State University
Michael D. Halbleib, Oregon State University
Dan James, Oregon State University
Jinbo Shen, Zhejiang Normal University, China
Weixing Cao, Nanjing Agricultural University, China
Xuezheng Shi, Nanjing Soil Institute, China
Xianglin Li, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Yuegao Hu, China Agricultural University, China
Liping Feng, China Agricultural University, China
Lining Fang, Beijing Clover, China

Progress in Grazing Management of Dairy Cows by Using the Grazemore DSS

Mårten Hetta, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Linda Karlsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Evelina Larsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Harry Eriksson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Kjell Martinsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

The Grazemore Decision Support System to Optimise Utilisation of Grazed Grass in Dairy Production

Linda Karlsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

The Grazemore Decision Support System to Predict the Quality of Pasture Grass in Dairy Production

Evelina Larsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

Ecosystem NPP of Typical Steppe in Xilinhot Based on the Improved CASA Model

Suying Li, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, China
X. B. Li, Beijing Normal University, China
W. Q. Zhu, Beijing Normal University, China
B. Jia, Beijing Normal University, China

Monitoring Cattle Utilization and Behavior in a Mediterranean Oak Woodland

I. Schoenbaum, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Zalmen Henkin, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
A. Brosh, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
J. Kigel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Eugene D. Ungar, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
Amit Dolev, MIGAL-Galilee Technological Center, Israel

Monitoring Grassland and Dynamics in Mongolia

Troy Sternberg, Oxford University, UK

Effect of Spatial Resolution on Remotely-Sensed Rangeland Vegetation Indices

J. Théau, Idaho State University
Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey, Idaho State University
Keith T. Weber, Idaho State University
S. Ahmed, Idaho State University
J. Tibbitts, Idaho State University

Rangeland Sustainability Modeling Using Soil Exposure and Soil Moisture Parameters

J. Tibbitts, Idaho State University
Keith T. Weber, Idaho State University
J. Théau, Idaho State University
Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey, Idaho State University

Use of Remote Sensing Satellite Images to Predict Pasture Biomass on Waikato Dairy Farms

C. Deanne Waugh, DairyNZ, New Zealand
David A. Clark, DairyNZ, New Zealand
S. F. Petch, DairyNZ, New Zealand
G. Mata, CSIRO, Australia
A. Edirisinghe, CSIRO, Australia
Z. Ward, Fonterra Co‐operative Group Limited, New Zealand

Monitoring Natural Pasture Status in Uruguay Using Satellite Images and a Soil Water Balance Model

J. P. Castaño, INIA, Uruguay
A. Giménez, INIA, Uruguay
L. Olivera, INIA, Uruguay

Patch Selection by Cattle Can Be Quantified Using Satellite Imagery and GPS in Extensive, Semi-Arid Savannas

Christopher Holloway, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia
Peter O'Reagain, James Cook University, Australia
Nigel Tomkins, CSIRO, Australia

Rangeland Monitoring and Adaptive Management

T. J. Bai, MDSM Data Analysis Services, LLC
Y. Q. Liang, MDSM Data Analysis Services, LLC

Application of Fractal on Ecosystem in Grassland

Yaxin Chen, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China
Bing Xu, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China
Kezhen Guo, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China
Quanming Liu, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China

Geoinformatics Application to Investigate Agricultural Potential in the Cholistan Desert

Farooq Ahmad, University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Measurement of Remote Sensing in Desert Plants Recovery

Xia Li, Xinjiang Agriculture University, China
Ting Niu, Xinjiang Agriculture University, China
Yebiao Yin, Xinjiang Agriculture University, China

Applications of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy in Grassland Science

Yan Liang, China Agricultural University, China
He Zhou, China Agricultural University, China

Partitioning of Evapotranspiration in Four Grassland Ecosystems with a Two Source Model

Zhongmin Hu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Guirui Yu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Xiaomin Sun, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Remote Sensing Monitoring for the Key Phonological Stages of Rangeland — A Case Study about Xilingol Grassland

Aijun Liu, China Agricultural University, China
Jianguo Han, China Agricultural University, China

Research on Establishing WebGIS of Grassland Resources for Inner Mongolia

Qing Yuan, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Jiating Wang, National Animal Husbandry Service, China
Dongmei Zhang, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Yongping Dong, National Animal Husbandry Service, China

A New Computer Program for the Calculation of Pasture Carrying Capacity

Andrea Pardini, University of Florence‐Piazzale Cascine, Italy
F. Longhi, University of Florence‐Piazzale Cascine, Italy
M. R. Mosquera Losada, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
A. Rigueiro Rodriguez, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Gradients of Functionality of Australian Rangeland Landscapes: Assessing Changes over Time with Remote Sensing

B. Price, The University of Queensland, Australia
C. McAlpine, The University of Queensland, Australia
D. Ward, The University of Queensland, Australia
Alexander Kutt, CSIRO, Australia
S. Phinn, The University of Queensland, Australia

Application of Forage Monitoring Technology to Track Drought Occurrences: Experiences from Eastern Africa

R. Kaitho, Texas A&M University
J. Ndung'u, GL‐CRSP LINKS, Kenya
G. Kariuki, GL‐CRSP LINKS, Kenya
M. Kingamkono, GL‐CRSP LINKS, Tanzania
J. Gutta, GL‐CRSP LINKS, Tanzania
E. Kebebe, GL‐CRSP LINKS, Ethiopia
P. Dyke, Texas A&M University

Comparison of Management Effects on Rangelands in Western USA and Northern Mongolia Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey, Idaho State University
Keith T. Weber, Idaho State University
Corey Moffet