Comparison of different vegetation measurement methods for determination of range land conditions

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine range condition by identifying plant species and comparing different measurement methods in the experimental field of Bingol University for two years. Vegetation measurement, plant coverage area, botanic composition and quality degree were estimated by using transect, loop and point frame methods. Plant covered area was determined as 85.2% by point frame method, 91.2% by loop method and 83.1% by transect method. In respect of botanical composition; grasses, legumes and other family plants were found to be 69.8%, 19.8% and 10.4% by point frame method; 67.1%, 21.5% and 11.4%; by loop method and 59.5%, 32.3% and 8.2% by transect method, respectively. Quality degrees was found as 3.85 by transect method; 3.02 by loop method and 3.07 by point frame method and the range was ranked as ‘poor range’ by each of the three methods used. Consequently, of the methods used, the point frame method and loop method were found producing similar results.