Abstract
An Environmental Resource Assessment and Management System (ERAMS) has been developed for determining present and potential pastoral productivity of arid and semiarid regions. ERAMS determines productivity of mapped land units on the basis of soil-water availability which is in turn dependent on annual rainfall, slope, soil depth, salinity, and soil physical and chemical constraints. Stock carrying capacity is dependent on soil type and vegetation state or condition (which is based on foliage cover and botanical composition), and nutritive value of the pasture. Physical and biological features are determined by field survey. ERAMS has been used to examine the likely impacts of management strategies that alter the degree of erosion, or vegetation type and state. Comparison of present and potential production indicates the economic benefits of programs designed to increase carrying capacity through improved vegetation cover and land stability.
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