A visual procedure for estimating stolen length of white clover per unit area in grazed pastures

Stolen length per unit area is a useful measurement to make in studies of w hite clover, but is time consuming and seldom done in routine sampling of g razing experiments. This study explored the possibility of using a calibrat ed visual estimation technique to estimate stolen length per unit area in a grazed pasture in south-east Queensland, Australia. Estimates were made of stolen presence in 50 quadrats on a 1-5 scale on 4 different occasions. Th ese were converted to stolen length per unit area using a set of 10 standar d quadrats which were estimated and then measured. The estimates on the 50 quadrats were then compared with their true values. Estimates of stolen len gth were very close to measured values and gave useful insight into seasona l changes in stolen length that were not detected by measurements of stolen presence/absence (% frequency). The procedure outlined could be readily in corporated with routine measurements of presentation yield and botanical co mposition made with the BOTANAL procedure.