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Condition - Qualitative
Productivity - Qualitative
Utilization - Qualitative
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Pasture condition scoring is a qualitative method for quickly assessing the overall condition of an area with respect to grazing management via key indicators and causative factors. This method is intended to be applied multiple times within a year as a way to identify the causes of changes in condition that are noticeable. Pasture condition scoring involves the evaluation of 10 factors or indicators. Each factor is ranked into five scores (from lowest [1] to highest [5]). An overall composite condition score can be assigned by combining the individual indicator scores. Likewise, similar indicators can be grouped to get a condition score for particular aspects of condition (e.g., plant production). The 10 indicators are:
The advantage of a method like pasture condition scoring is that it is a quick and easy-to-implement method for assessing rangeland condition. Potential downsides of this method are mostly those common to other qualitative measures of rangelands: lack of repeatability and potential observer bias. Additionally, this method concentrates heavily on livestock production and the capacity of land for grazing. As such, it may miss other important factors related to a more broad definition of rangeland condition.
In it's approach to assessing condition, pasture condition scoring is very similar to Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health.
Related utilization and residue measurement methods include:
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