Old School and High Tech: A Comparison of Methods to Quantify Ashe Juniper Biomass as Fuel or Forage

Abstract

Ashe juniper invasion is a widespread issue on Texas and Oklahoma rangelands. Increased densities of Ashe juniper trees increase the risk of wildfire and decrease herbaceous forage production. Browsing animals, such as goats, are one tool that can be used to effectively reduce juniper fuel. In order to estimate the available biomass, allometric measurements were compared against three-dimensional Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scans of whole juniper plants. Accurate measurements of standing juniper browse and fuel load can be vital information for decision support of grazing management and wildland fire mitigation, especially in the ever-growing wildland-urban interface.