Abstract
A study at Braidwood, New South Wales, over three curing seasons has allowed the development of an empirical Grassland Curing Index (GCI) system for the district. The GCI is a 100 unit scale, equivalent to visually assessed grassland curing (percentage). The GCI is based on the Soil Dryness Index (SDI). Compared with the Byram Keetch Drought Index (BKDI), the SDI reflects catchment run-off more accurately. The GCI uses the daily evapotranspiration rate derived from daily maximum temperature and classes of soil dryness values in the evapotranspiration table to: determine the date that each ‘crop’ of grassland growth starts to cure; monitor curing of ‘crops’ of growth both singly and in combination; help determine when a rain period is likely to promote further growth; and forecast a likely range in grassland curing up to six weeks in advance. A single-crop version of the GCI has been used in a limited operational feasibility study in Tasmania over the 1988–1989 season. When compared with satellite imagery and ground collected data, the GCI predicted vegetation moisture content with 66% accuracy. When used with the satellite imagery, 72% of the variance was explained. GCI is more comfortable than other indices as an indicator of percentage curing. Curing is an indication of grassland moisture content. GCI offers a tool to assist fire managers with assessment and forecasting of grassland fire danger.
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