Categories of pasture condition for ecosystem accounting
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Very Good (A) | Very good land condition that has high levels of groundcover (>90%), including perennial tussock species and litter that contribute to soil protection and water and nutrient retention, and an appropriate mix of perennial, palatable and persistent species. Few weeds are present and soil erosion is absent. A good amount of biomass is retained (>1500 kg ha−1), even where animals are present or after a grazing event |
| Good (B) | Similar to A with good land condition that has high levels of groundcover (70–90% coverage). There is some decline in perennial, palatable and persistent species and larger tussocky species (including litter) that contribute to soil protection (and water and nutrient retention) compared to class A and likely to be a minor presence of weeds. There may be signs of previous erosion and potential for current erosion in some areas. Reasonable biomass (a golf ball would not be seen from a few m away) is retained even where grazing animals are present |
| Fair (C) | There are reasonable levels of groundcover (up to 70%), a low diversity of palatable and perennial species and persistent native species that protect soil assets in poor times are missing. Annual or invasive perennial weeds are significant. A high proportion of bare ground is likely to be present (>50%) in some years and obvious signs of erosion with current susceptibility to erosion high. Low biomass (a golf ball easily seen from a few metres away) |
| Poor (D) | Low levels of groundcover (<50%) with a fair proportion of bare ground (>30%), low pasture biomass most of the time and (likely to very low in extended dry times), a low diversity of perennials and dominated by unpalatable species and annual weeds |
| Very Poor (E) | Few (if any) perennial species are present and it is a severe and hostile environment for plant growth (i.e. scalding, salinity, severe and continuing gullying in susceptible areas). Potential and likelihood of weed invasion is high |
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Very Good (A) | Very good land condition that has high levels of groundcover (>90%), including perennial tussock species and litter that contribute to soil protection and water and nutrient retention, and an appropriate mix of perennial, palatable and persistent species. Few weeds are present and soil erosion is absent. A good amount of biomass is retained (>1500 kg ha−1), even where animals are present or after a grazing event |
| Good (B) | Similar to A with good land condition that has high levels of groundcover (70–90% coverage). There is some decline in perennial, palatable and persistent species and larger tussocky species (including litter) that contribute to soil protection (and water and nutrient retention) compared to class A and likely to be a minor presence of weeds. There may be signs of previous erosion and potential for current erosion in some areas. Reasonable biomass (a golf ball would not be seen from a few m away) is retained even where grazing animals are present |
| Fair (C) | There are reasonable levels of groundcover (up to 70%), a low diversity of palatable and perennial species and persistent native species that protect soil assets in poor times are missing. Annual or invasive perennial weeds are significant. A high proportion of bare ground is likely to be present (>50%) in some years and obvious signs of erosion with current susceptibility to erosion high. Low biomass (a golf ball easily seen from a few metres away) |
| Poor (D) | Low levels of groundcover (<50%) with a fair proportion of bare ground (>30%), low pasture biomass most of the time and (likely to very low in extended dry times), a low diversity of perennials and dominated by unpalatable species and annual weeds |
| Very Poor (E) | Few (if any) perennial species are present and it is a severe and hostile environment for plant growth (i.e. scalding, salinity, severe and continuing gullying in susceptible areas). Potential and likelihood of weed invasion is high |
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