A Remote Rangeland Analysis System

Abstract

This paper describes a "now" capability whereby satellite imagery could provide range managers with maps and tables giving standing crop biomass for selected species groups or range types (swales, uplands, etc.). This capability is provided by a remote rangeland analysis system which can monitor the effects of weather, grazing intensity, and land-management actions on primary production. The system concepts resulted from a project designed to assess the usefulness of ERTS and other remote sensing systems as sources of information for rangeland management. A field measurement program supported and verified the successful use of ERTS imagery for computer classification of vegetation type and quantity of standing crop biomass. Biomass classification was accomplished on three successive ERTS images, without changing the classification parameters, indicating that biomass classification may be less critical than expected. Extensive statistical analysis of ERTS data has shown that the MSS (multispectral scanner) Channel 5 and the ratio of Channel 7 to Channel 5 provide the most significant variables for vegetation type and biomass classifications. Cross-classification results of vegetation type and biomass provide tables summarizing biomass availability by species groups and in total acres.