97
Class D: Uncovered areas which are occupied by roads, water channels or
buildings.
On the map there are some areas which are presented in a mixture of
Class A and Class B. This means exactly that they are covered by a mixture of
palatable and unpalatable species. This highlights an important decision to be
faced by the rangeland manager: whether to control the invaders first and then
institute system, or to use the area for grazing directly, considering that it
has 50% palatable plants, or 50% of the carrying capacity of an area of Class
A type.
Two unclassified areas are shown on the map because of the appearance
of cloud shade on the photos.
Table 2 shows the detailed classification into 21 categories and how
they are summarized into four classes.
CONCLUSIONS
Different plant species could be identified by multispectral remote
sensing during an adequate period of the year. The combination of information
obtained along different wave length bands provides essential data for the
range manager to evaluate his range and to establish a suitable policy. A red
filter with aerographic plus-X film (Panchromatic) gives more contrasted infor
mation, in this period. Plus-X film with yellow filters provides a general idea
about the green cover. Infrared black and white and color infrared films give
specific information about plant condition, stage and maturity and show if the
reflected surface is a living fresh body due to the high reflectance of the
cell, walls and shape, in this band. Multispectral analysis gives integrated
data. Choosing the right season for multispectral remote sensing operation is
the most important factor to get useful results. This choice depends on the
range manager's requirement for grassland evaluation. Application of remote
sensing in range management decreases the number of specialists needed, decreases
the time necessary for data collection and analysis, and replaces a major part
of the field work to be done,but requires highly efficient interpretation of
the images. Remote sensing techniques provide the range manager with real time
information, but he should become acquainted with how to use this data to
optimize his rangeland use.
Further Applications : More research and publications are necessary
about the application of remote sensing in the range management field. Spectral
properties of plants in the range are required, to enable the selection of the
right sensors and altitude. Combination between film and filters for each
purpose are required studies. Estimating the carrying capacity, grazing pres
sure, and calculating the pasture productivity through the application of
remote sensing are important further applied research.