Two-step Sampling Technique for Estimating Standing Crop of herbaceous Vegetation

Abstract

Standing crop of vegetation may be estimated by sampling foliar cover per unit area and then determining mass per unit of cover. Multiplying foliar cover per unit area by mass per unit of cover gives mass per unit area (standing crop). By this method standing crop is estimated rapidly with low variance while minimizing the amount of actual harvesting required. Standing crop of both major and minor species can be estimated adequately without over sampling major species and under-sampling minor species. The technique is most easily applied to herbaceous plant communities of low stature.