Describing the dynamic: Measuring and assessing the value of plants in the pasture

Abstract

The dynamic nature of pastures makes them difficult to quantify. Understanding the nearconstant change in plant morphology and development in relation to both biotic (grazing, pathogens, and insects) and abiotic (drought,cold, and heat) events provide the scientific basis for optimizing pasture management plans. Challenges include (i) the cost, primarily for skilled labor, to measure these parameters and (ii) having a scientific team large enough and diverse enough to analyze and interpret the data. New technologies offer opportunities to inexpensively measure pasture growth dynamics. Lasers, ultrasound, drones, satellite images, global positioning systems, and radio frequency identification systems offer innovative researchers new methods to rapidly quantify important characteristics of soils, plants, animals, and even the people of pasture ecosystems. The successful research teams of tomorrow need to be as dynamic and as diverse as the pastures they hope to measure. Blending traditional soil, plant, and animal scientists with scientists from other disciplines (e.g., engineers, computer scientists, geographers, economists, human nutritionists, sociologists, and psychologists) can bring new perspectives about what makes a pasture good. Linking research teams to end users—not only farmers, but also investors, consumers, environmentalists, critics, and policymakers—provides the opportunity to use dynamic pasture measurements to build a more productive yet healthier planet.