Comparison of rangeland vegetation study methods

This study was conducted in the natural rangeland of the Ataturk University, Erzurum, Türkiye. The aim of the study was to determine the differences appearing in the use of different vegetation measurement methods (i.e. loop, transect, wheel point (WP) and modified wheel point (MWP). It was also aimed to determine the optimum number of sample for each method, and to improve the arrangements to compare the data from different methods on the same vegetation. The data were collected from 60 lines. Regression formulas were generated regarding canopy coverage ratios. In all methods, it was observed that grass family made up of an important part of the whole vegetation while the Festuca ovina was dominant specie. Other families and legumes followed in diminishing order. The difference between the methods was found to be statistically significant (p < 0,01). In all methods the dominant specie had the contagious distribution. It was found that 55-30, 55-35, 55-25 and 50-45 samples should be collected for loop, transect, WP and MWP methods respectively in order to determine the condition of the dominant specie in the vegetation with the deviation of 5 and 10 per cent. Rangeland quality degree was found to be 3,45; 4,44; 3,49 and 3,08 for loop, transect, WP and MWP methods respectively. Study area was evaluated to be in fair range condition for transect method while it was in poor condition for the rest.