Sampling Herbaceous Native Vegetation with an Electronic Capacitance Instrument

Abstract

Dry matter yields of herbaceous native vegetation were effectively estimated with electronic herbage meters. Yields were estimated on vegetation types varying from a low-elevation annual type to a high-elevation alpine type. Phenology, dead organic matter, plant stature, composition, and meter placement within the vegetation affected efficiency of yield estimates. Double sampling techniques are necessary. Optimum sample size for either a fixed-cost or fixed-variance estimate should be determined for each vegetation type.