A visual appraisal method for the estimation of botanical composition in a dense sward

Abstract

At the commencement of a nitrogen fertilizer trial on a grass sward consisting of kikuyu grass, paspalum and carpet grass, two intensities of a visual appraisal method were compared with the point quadrat method for the estimation of changes in botanical composition. For speed and ease the visual appraisal method was far superior to the point quadrat method. There was no difference in accuracy between the two intensities of visual appraisal, and the method was as accurate as the point quadrat method when standard errors were expressed as a percentage of the grand mean. The lower intensity of visual appraisal was chosen for use.