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Use of a Disk Meter to Evaluate Continuously Grazed Pastures

Use of a Disk Meter to Evaluate Continuously Grazed Pastures One of the greatest difficulties in pasture research is accurately measuring quality and quantity of the vegetation. The disk meter may be used to rapidly estimate herbage mass (DM) but its validity depends on a good relationship between disk meter height (DMH) and DM. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DMH and DM for continuously grazed pastures. Pastures of varied botanical composition were grazed by cows and calves from May through October. Paired data (DMH and DM clipped from under the disk) from seven cool season pastures were subjected to covariance analysis. Prediction equations were developed utilizing data from 2 years for different pastures and dates. Disk meter height accounted for a little over half the variability in DM (R2 of 0.54 and 0.59 for years 1 and 2, respectively). Regression coefficients of DM on DMH differed between dates in both years and between pastures in one year. To accurately predict DM the disk meter must be calibrated for each pasture and date. However, the disk meter can be used where an estimate of herbage mass is required and resources are limiting. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science Wiley

Use of a Disk Meter to Evaluate Continuously Grazed Pastures

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References (5)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0931-2250
eISSN
1439-037X
DOI
10.1111/j.1439-037X.1989.tb00735.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

One of the greatest difficulties in pasture research is accurately measuring quality and quantity of the vegetation. The disk meter may be used to rapidly estimate herbage mass (DM) but its validity depends on a good relationship between disk meter height (DMH) and DM. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DMH and DM for continuously grazed pastures. Pastures of varied botanical composition were grazed by cows and calves from May through October. Paired data (DMH and DM clipped from under the disk) from seven cool season pastures were subjected to covariance analysis. Prediction equations were developed utilizing data from 2 years for different pastures and dates. Disk meter height accounted for a little over half the variability in DM (R2 of 0.54 and 0.59 for years 1 and 2, respectively). Regression coefficients of DM on DMH differed between dates in both years and between pastures in one year. To accurately predict DM the disk meter must be calibrated for each pasture and date. However, the disk meter can be used where an estimate of herbage mass is required and resources are limiting.

Journal

Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science – Wiley

Published: Aug 1, 1989

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