Biological Soil Crust (BSC) can potentially be used to estimate grazing pressure, which in turn can be used as an indicator of rangeland condition. BSC is easily disturbed by hardfooted animals such as sheep. Two BSC -based indicators, species composition and cover, have already been suggested as useful indicators for rangeland condition assessment. There is strong agreement that BSC species composition is a good indicator of rangeland condition; however, there is less agreement that BSC cover alone is a good indicator. The percentage cover of BSC was measured at a series of sites at different distances from watering points in five paddocks at Middleback Field Center, north-west of Whyalla in South Australia. Results showed that there is indeed a direct relationship between distances from watering point and the percentage cover of BSC, indicating that BSC cover could be used as an indicator of rangeland condition.
Renmark, South Australia
ISSN 1323 660
Full-text publications from the Australian Rangelands Society (ARS) Biennial Conference Proceedings (1997-), Rangeland Journal (ARS/CSIRO; 1976-), plus videos and other resources about the rangelands of Australia.