Landscape
The simplest and most effective method of keeping an eye on your farm or grazing block is to set up a number of photo point monitoring sites. These are simple points of reference that can be checked on an annual basis or more often if you remember.
For example, if you need to monitor a change in pasture health, ground cover, tree cover, vegetation management, soil condition, erosion, water flow regime or any other landscape related issue, then taking several photos would be the best method.
Site Selection
The most successful method for choosing a site is to have photo sites on
- Worst Condition
- Best Condition
- Average Condition
This way you will have records to compare nutrient and microbial results across soil types and conditions
Methodology
- You will need two steel posts for each site.
- The posts must be rammed into the ground to at least 30 cm so they are not removed by stock rubbing.
- The posts must be 10 m apart and aligned in a north to south direction.
- To take photos it is best to stand on the back of a ute.
- The first photo is a landscape photo facing south from the north post. (keep the sun behind you)
- The second photo will be looking down on the ground from the first post. (ground cover)
- Landscape monitoring is generally conducted with photosites as step 1 and a written record of ground cover ratings, basal area recordings or other parameters as step 2. Just ensure that the photos are taken and move forward from there.