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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190950
Title: RANGELAND FIELD DATA TECHNIQUES AND DATA APPLICATIONS

Author
item SPAETH, KEN - NRCS
item PEACOCK, G. - NRCS
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item SHAVER, PAT - NRCS
item DAYTON, R. - NRCS

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2005
Publication Date: 10/31/2005
Citation: Spaeth, K., Peacock, G.L., Herrick, J.E., Shaver, P., Dayton, R. 2005. Rangeland field and data techniques and data applications. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 60(5):114A-119A.

Interpretive Summary: No interpretive summary required.

Technical Abstract: The National Resource Inventory (NRI) is a national-level inventory of the nation's non-federal land. This article summarizes the current status and uses of the NRI for rangelands. Following the analysis of a 1999 pilot study, the new rangeland NRI was implemented on 980 points in 15 states in 2003. In 2004, it was expanded to an additional 2,369 points. Plant cover, production and structure are measured, as well as the aggregate stability of the soil surface. Current land use and invasive species are also included in the database. The data will be combined with future data to generate a report card of the status of the nation's rangelands. Some of the data are also being used to assist with the development of ecological site descriptions.