Using photographic method for ground cover and range plant density measurement (Case study: Minavand and Fashandak watershed in Taleghan)

Ground cover and plant density data are required for many management plans in rangeland utilization. Introducing a proper method with low field work and costs and expert biases in addition an adequate accuracy، is important. In this study according to development of usage of new softwares for digital image analysis، possible use of photographic method for measurement of ground cover and plant density was investigated. To conduct this study four vegetation types (two grasslands and two grass- shrub lands) in Taleghan region were selected. In other to measure ground cover، ocular and photographic methods and for plant density measurement direct (counting) and photographic methods were used. Data were collected within 60 plots of 1 m2 along 6 transects 200 m in each sites. Interpretation of pictures of plots was done using Arc View software. Data analysis was done by SPSS software using paired t test. Generally، the results of this study showed that photographic method for measurement of ground cover in grass- shrub communities is applicable. But in grassland communities for measurement of canopy cover، based on variance between two methods and precision and aim of research، application of photographic method should be with care. In addition the results showed that، there were not significant different between density estimated by two methods (P<0. 05). Then photographic method could be used for density measurements in similar vegetation communities.