This study aimed at estimating herbage mass functional relationship with rainfall and selected soil morphological properties using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Herbage mass as dry matter (DM) measurements from quadrat harvesting method and estimations based on grass cover were done. Herbage on 1 × 1 m quadrats was harvested and oven dried at 60°C until constant weight. Grass cover data collection was based on spectral strata of vegetation cover types obtained from Landsat image. Rainfall data were collected from 14 rain gauge stations. Soil profiles were described and their drainage was determined. A multi-linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship among DM, grass cover, rainfall effectiveness and soil drainage. The relationships among the variables were integrated using ModelBuilder in ArcGIS 9.3 to come up with spatial and seasonal herbage distribution. Results showed a strong relationship among the above variables and DM (R 2 = 0.76; p < 0.001). Grass cover was foun...
['David Mfitumukiza', 'M.J.G. Majaliwa', 'D. Mpairwe', 'M.M. Tenywa', 'Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa', 'Frank Kansiime']
Proxy quantification and mapping of seasonal rangeland herbage using grass cover in the cattle corridor of Uganda