Approx 45% Bare, 27% litter, 28% basal, and litter is contacting soil well

Bare Ground

Just as darkness is actually the absence of light, bare soil is the absence of cover. And bare is our ‘enemy’. Bare mineral soil relates mostly to water cycling -the less bare, the more effective water infiltration, soil/water storage, and higher probability of site stability.

Litter

Any dead organic material lying near or above the ground surface is considered litter. In some cases, litter can be embedded into the ground, such as in the form of dead plant bases. Usually the more the better, however in some cases there is so much litter due to lack of grazing or impact that it affects the production negatively. We consider litter amount and soil contact as primary indicators for the nutrient cycle.

Defined as the actual percentage of area that the plants take up at ground surface, basal cover represents the biotic state (plants and diversity) and energy flow (production and consumption) in the landscape’s ecological processes ? typically the more the better. Baring extreme weather conditions, plant basal area is more affected by land management than annual or long term precipitation. Thus, if basal cover is decreasing,… pay attention, it is likely not due to a lack of rain.
*see an example of basal cover vs. canopy cover further down*

Rocks can provide a lot of feedback. If you are seeing more, things are degrading and your soil is leaving. If you are seeing less, you are building soil. Rocks can serve an important purpose, for example, in some southwestern and Great Basin parts of the US, a concentrated layer of smaller rocks (.25-.75″ in size) arming the soil surface isn’t uncommon to see. Usually called desert or erosion pavement, it is natures ‘scabbing response’ to avoid soil loss. Though quite stable at that state, it may limit seed germination success.

The two major types of moss and lichen we commonly deal with are dense club moss and green transient lichen. Due to its transient nature the lichen appears windblown and dead and easily mistaken for litter, yet it is a live organism which will unfold and attach when wet. Transient lichen when blown by wind has been known to form relatively dense windrows, sometimes poinsoning animals that consume large amounts. Dense clubmoss, is much more persistent, and difficult to address without disturbance.

Rather than just guessing the surface cover percentages by looking down around your feet, it helps to have a specific observation area with a border for visual estimating. As you can probably tell from the photos, we feel that a 93″e; hoop (which represents 4.8 sq. ft) is the best tool for estimating across diverse landscapes. Furthermore, when these hoops are placed along a transect line and are used in conjunction with annual photography, the estimates become less subjective and more objective.

You Want Me to Estimate What?

Visually estimating cover is always difficult ? period. However, it is a vital for the manager to acknowledge (and write down!) his/her best estimate of proportions of cover. It’s easy to say “lots of bare ground”e; but it is much more beneficial to specifically place a value on what you are seeing in each category. Acknowledging that 80% or 50% or 15% of your land is actually bare, carries much more meaning and weight to the land steward. When you stop and do the math and realizes that only 20%, 10%, or 5% of the land is capturing free sunlight,… this should have a pretty big impact on how you make your management decisions.

All you are doing is filling in your best estimate of the following:
___% Bare,___% Litter, ___% Basal,_ __ %Moss, ___% Rock

It’s easy to be intimidated by the process. We can already hear you saying – How am I supposed to know? Just remember – it’s your best estimate. And hopefully you have consistent photos for reference.

Tricks for Visual Estimations

1. Don’t struggle too hard. We spend a lot of time on surface cover reading exercises during our EKG schools. So remember that the more you practice, the more confident you will be. It’s not about being 100% accurate, it’s about making estimates based on what you see. Go with your gut; usually your first impression is the most accurate.
   
   
2. Human Nature. We tend to overestimate basal cover and underestimate bare ground. Keep this in mind.
   
   
3. Always think about basic proportions. Is there a lot or a little? Roughly think ‘quarters’ or’ thirds’ proportions: 33%, 50%, 66%, 75%, etc.? Eliminate the small proportions first. Ok, 5% rock, and 10% moss, leaving 85% that is bare, litter, or basal.
   
   
4. Use your hands as a tool. On average, most hands will cover about 5% of the hoop, which is a huge help for estimating cover. Use this diagram as a general rule:
   
   
   
5. Basal cover is tricky to estimate. As observers we are always looking down through the canopy to estimate basal cover. Remember that basal cover is where the plant goes into the ground – canopy is almost always greater than basal cover. See the diagram for a visual. The size of a plant base has a direct bearing on the amount of plant canopy. The larger the plant bases, the more solar collectors available for herbivores.