Rangeland Biomass Research Articles

Hyperspectral One-Meter-Resolution Remote Sensing in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: II. Biomass

This study was designed to determine the utility of a 1-m-resolution hyperspectral sensor to estimate total and live biomass along with the individual biomass of litter, grasses, forbs, sedges, sagebrush, and willow from grassland and riparian communities in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. A large number of simple ratio-type vegetation indices (SRTVI) and normalized differencetype vegetation indices (NDTVI) were developed from the hyperspectral data and regressed against ground-collected biomass. Results showed the following: 1) Strong relationships were found between SRTVI or NDTVI and total (R 2 ¼ 0.87), live (R 2 ¼ 0.84), sedge (R 2 ¼ 0.77), and willow (R 2 ¼ 0.66) biomass. 2) Weak relationships were found between SRTVI or NDTVI and grass (R 2 ¼ 0.39), forb (R 2 ¼ 0.16), and litter (R 2 ¼ 0.51) biomass, possibly caused by the mixture of spectral signatures with grasses, sedges, and willows along with the variable effect of the litter spectral signature. 3) A weak relationship was found between sagebrush biomass and SRTVI or NDTSI (R 2 ¼ 0.3) that was related to interference from sagebrush photosynthetic or nonphotosynthetic branch and twig material, and from the indeterminate spectral signature of sagebrush. This study has shown that hyperspectral imagery at 1-m resolution can result in high correlations and low error estimates for a variety of biomass components in rangelands. This methodology can thus become a very useful tool to estimate rangeland biomass over large areas. Resumen

Hyperspectral One-Meter-Resolution Remote Sensing in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: II. Biomass

This study was designed to determine the utility of a 1-m-resolution hyperspectral sensor to estimate total and live biomass along with the individual biomass of litter, grasses, forbs, sedges, sagebrush, and willow from grassland and riparian communities in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. A large number of simple ratio-type vegetation indices (SRTVI) and normalized difference- type vegetation indices (NDTVI) were developed from the hyperspectral data and regressed against ground-collected biomass. Results showed the following: 1) Strong relationships were found between SRTVI or NDTVI and total (R2 = 0.87), live (R2 = 0.84), sedge (R2 = 0.77), and willow (R2 = 0.66) biomass. 2) Weak relationships were found between SRTVI or NDTVI and grass (R2 = 0.39), forb (R2 = 0.16), and litter (R2 = 0.51) biomass, possibly caused by the mixture of spectral signatures with grasses, sedges, and willows along with the variable effect of the litter spectral signature. 3) A weak relationship was found between sagebrush biomass and SRTVI or NDTSI (R2 = 0.3) that was related to interference from sagebrush photosynthetic or nonphotosynthetic branch and twig material, and from the indeterminate spectral signature of sagebrush. This study has shown that hyperspectral imagery at 1-m resolution can result in high correlations and low error estimates for a variety of biomass components in rangelands. This methodology can thus become a very useful tool to estimate rangeland biomass over large areas.

Development of a ground truthing method for determination of rangeland biomass using canopy reflectance properties

Veld condition assessment and establishment of grazing capacity norms provide guidelines for the formulation of sustainable practices. However, conventional monitoring methods are becoming inadequate to meet future challenges, where quantification of spatial and temporal variation is required. This study proposes an on-site remote sensing method for monitoring above-ground biomass in rangelands. A preliminary model was formulated, based on simple regression relationships between canopy reflectance properties and aboveground biomass. This model was validated in semi-arid environments (Nama-karoo and Kalahari) within the framework of spatial and temporal experimental trials. Model accuracy was found to be primarily a function of canopy structure and vegetation composition where increases in dwarf shrub presence resulted in greater variations of both NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) measurements. Temporal variation in model accuracy could also be observed which seemed to be associated with precipitation events. It was concluded that the proposed remote sensing method has potential as a ground truthing technique for determination of rangeland biomass. Indications are that this method is well suited for use in grass dominated veld types. With further refinement, implementation of this technique should also be possible in dwarf shrublands.

Biomass estimation on grazed and ungrazed rangelands using spectral indices

Aboveground biomass was estimated on the shortgrass steppe of Eastern Colorado using Landsat TM Tasseled Cap green vegetation index (GVI), brightness index (BI), and wetness index (WI), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the red waveband (RED), for two grazing treatments (moderately grazed or ungrazed). Field measurements of standing crop were obtained on six sites per grazing treatment. Ordinary least squares regression models of biomass as a function of one or more indices were tested for grazed, ungrazed, and combined grazed and ungrazed data. Biomass from grazed sites was linearly related to GVI, NDVI, WI, and RED indices (R2 0.62-0.67). Ungrazed sites produced no significant relations. With combined ungrazed and grazed data, biomass was not significantly related to GVI, NDVI, WI, or BI, and was poorly related to the RED index (R2 0.35). When grazing treatments were treated as dummy variables for the combined data, the RED index was moderately related to biomass (R2 0.70). These results suggest that information about grazing utilization is useful for estimating aboveground biomass in rangelands. The RED index appears to be sensitive to biomass variations for green vegetation and to a lesser extent dry or senescent vegetation when relatively bright soil backgrounds are present which is often the case for semi-arid environments such as the shortgrass steppe.

Above-ground and Below-ground Biomass situation of Milke-Jaljale Rangeland at Different Altitudinal Gradient

Rangeland conservation has been increasingly interested for carbon reduction and mitigation of climate change, because of carbon storage. Thus, biomass of the rangeland remains pivotal regarding carbon sequestration on rangeland. Present study was conducted in high altitude rangeland at Jaljale (4000 m), Gorujure (3500 m) and Milke (3000 m) on September, 2010 with an objective to estimate rangeland biomass following the total harvesting method. Result revealed that biomass of high altitude rangeland has relatively high value (1.50 t/ha for both above ground biomass and 43.48 t/ha for below ground biomass) compared to low altitude rangeland (0.35 t/ha for above ground biomass and 16.93 t/ha for below ground biomass). Similarly, monocot plant density play crucial role for biomass contribution of rangeland.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v9i1.5740