Abstract
Compressed sward height (CSH) measurements by means of rising plate meters are a standard management tool to assess the herbage on offer in pastures and can be used to quantify the herbage mass if a suitable calibration curve is available. In a field trial we explored the combined effect of CSH, vegetation type and progress of the growing season on herbage dry mass. Paired measurements of CSH by means of rising plate meter (Grasshopper®, True North Technologies, Shannon, IRL) and of herbage dry mass (harvest at 3 cm cutting height with electric scissors) were performed during the grazing season (end of April until mid-October) at three paddocks in the montane vegetation belt of the Alps (South Tyrol, NE Italy) managed by compartmented short sward grazing, and differing moderately in their botanical composition. General Linear Models accounting for the covariates CSH and progress of the growing season (expressed as day of the year), as well as for the vegetation type showed a significant effect of all factors. For an accurate prediction of herbage mass, a vegetation type-specific calibration, even with relatively similar vegetation types, seems to be useful.