Mathematical approach to range condition in comparison to the SCS method

TitleMathematical approach to range condition in comparison to the SCS method
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1983
AuthorsPamo ETedonkeng
Number of Pages189
Date Published1983
UniversityNew Mexico State University
CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis TypePh.D. Dissertationpp
Call Number00245
Keywordsdissertation, dissertations, productivity, range condition, range condition, rangeland,condition classification, technique, cluster procedure, technique, range condition classification, theses, thesis
AbstractIn the USA, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) method of range condition classification which relates the current state of health of development stage of rangeland to the potential of which the area is capable has been widely used. The application of the method, however, presupposes that the potential plant community be known. That is not always possible for many rangelands in the world where the deterioration has been such as to almost prelude any determination of the potential plant community. This study aimed at investigating an alternative approach to rangeland classification.... The variation of the mean production of the group as well as the mean production of some major plant species across the three condition classes and seral stages of the two grouping procedures (SCS and cluster) had an approximately similar trend. The cluster analysis, however, appeared to better classify these plant communities. The pairwise squared generalized distance between groups and the average production within each group were clearly distinct with the cluster procedure. Seven transects out of one hundred and twenty (5.33%) were misclassified by the cluster procedure while thirty-four (28.33%) were misclassified by the SCS method. Cluster analysis associated with multiple discriminant analysis produced the best ecologically significant grouping.