Estimating pasture production by use of grass length and sward density.

Abstract

An investigation was made of the extent to which estimates of sward density and herbage length can be used to replace clipping as a means for determining herbage yield. On the assumption that the variance about the regression line is independent of the readings obtained, reasonably good results were obtained in 1959 for swards yielding more than 4000 kg/ha. The method was less reliable where the sward contained more than 10% dicotyledons. It was found that the accuracy of yield determinations could be increased by combining a small number of cuts with a larger number of sward-density and/or -length determinations without increasing the amount of time spent in sampling. F. s.-R.B. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)