Grass measuring posts can be used to show increased pasture growth, if any. Taking photos from the same position over a period of time is one reliable way of finding out. Improvement in pasture quality is shown by cattle consistently showing preference for one plot over the other. This too can be recorded on photos and/or in notes of the observations. Given the time lags involved, recording is far more reliable than human memory
Materials
Two posts are needed: one for the treated area and one for the control area. They consist of:
- a 1.8 m star picket
- a length of 1.2m 90mm PVC storm drain pipe. (This prevents cattle from rubbing against the pickets and knocking them over as the pipe rolls and does not scratch.)
- Glue-on figures from 1 to 10, plus one extra 1. Size: 70mm x 43mm (Make sure they are flexible, stiff ones can’t be attached to a pipe.) (The shop ran out, hence no 11.)
- 2 rolls of cloth tape, black and red, shows-up best. (Rolls are 4.5m long and 48mm wide. Cut a snip at 2cm and tear it from there.)
Getting started
Gather all the materials before you start.
Marking the Pipe
Draw a straight line across the length from end to end on the pipe. (To make sure the numbers in a straight vertical line.)
Mark the 100mm distances by drawing lines 100mm apart around the pipe. (Use a piece of lino as shown.)
Tear a strip of black cloth tape and stick it below the bottom line, with the top touching the line. Next a strip of red on the next line and so on.
The Numbers
Place the first number above the strip, just touching it. Starting at 10cm from the bottom.
Use even numbers on one post and uneven ones for the other. (We use the uneven numbers for the treated areas and the even numbers for controls. There will be less chance of mix-ups when we compare photos across various sites if we all do that. Or when looking at them in future years.)
Skip the next strip and place the next number.
Placing the post and Taking Photos
Place the post 5m from the fixed point from where you’ll take photos such as a fence post and clearly mark that post.
Tips:
- Avoid intruding objects such as branches and shadows.
- When taking photos, keep the top of the marking post at the top of the picture, see the photo at the top. (That provides details, such as grass height and flower spikes on grass, needed to make decisions and comparisons.)
- Try and take photos at the same time of day.
