PASTURE STATUS IN A SEMIARID GRASSLAND

Landsat-MSS data were used to estimate pasture biomass, cover and greenness of semi-arid grassland in central western New South Wales, Australia. The green pasture dominated the reflectance and while' green cover, green biomass and percentage green were estimated to acceptable levels (+/-9.7 per cent, +/-0.35 t ha-1 and +/- 11.6 per cent respectively); it was not possible to estimate total pasture or brown pasture variables. Variability within relatively homogenous pastures is so large that the regression models between reflectance and pasture variables were not significantly different for the three pasture types analysed. Information on green biomass, cover and curing are useful for monitoring changes in pasture condition and in bushfire prediction models.