Range condition analysis: comparison of 2 methods in southern New Mexico desert grasslands

TitleRange condition analysis: comparison of 2 methods in southern New Mexico desert grasslands
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1991
AuthorsE. Pamo T, Pieper, Rex D., Beck RF
JournalJournal of Range Management
Volume44
Pagination374-378
Date Published1991
Call Number00618
Keywordsarticle, articles, grassland, cluster analysis, grassland, secondary succession, grassland, spatial variation, journal, journals, productivity, range condition, range condition, range management, rangeland, cluster analysis, rangeland, secondary succession, rangeland, spatial variation, rangeland,condition classification, succession, grassland, technique, cluster procedure, technique, range condition classification
AbstractInterest in evaluation theoretical considerations in traditional methods of determining range condition have increased recently with application of different analytical techniques. In this study, the traditional quantitative climax approach was compared to a cluster analysis method on range sites in desert grassland in southern New Mexico. Both methods identified 3 classes that corresponded to successional stages or range condition classes. The cluster analysis approach provided a more precise procedure than the quantitative climax approach, as evaluated by multiple discriminate analysis. However, the cluster analysis is a much more complex analytical procedure than the quantitative climax approach, and may be limited for management purposes.