Quantifying herbage mass on rotationally stocked palisadegrass pastures using indirect methods

Indirect, non-destructive methods for estimating herbage mass on pasture may help growers to better estimate herbage mass and manage the grazing process. The objective of this study was to evaluate two methods for estimating herbage mass on Marandu palisadegrass [Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf] pastures, over two grazing seasons. The relationships between herbage mass and two indirect, non-destructive measurements (sward surface height - SSH and rising plate meter - RP) were analyzed via regression analysis. Mean determination coefficients (r²) for the regression models were 0.82 and 0.91 for RP and SSH, respectively. Time within season influenced both slope (b) and intercept (a) of the regression models in both methods. The change in model parameters over the course of the seasons suggests the need for frequent model revision and revalidation.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Braga,Gustavo José, Pedreira,Carlos Guilherme Silveira, Herling,Valdo Rodrigues, Luz,Pedro Henrique de Cerqueira, Marchesin,Wilson Aparecido, Macedo,Felipe Barros
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" 2009
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-90162009000100018
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