| ABSTRACT Visual assessments of pasture degradation levels are widespread because they are rapid, practical and inexpensive. However, they can be subjective, making it difficult to distinguish between degradation levels to establish management practices. This fact, in association with the lack of standardization of the number of levels and the assessment periods, suggests a need for further studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between the degradation levels of visually evaluated pastures and the soil cover measured in fields in summer and winter. Percentages of Brachiaria grass, bare soil, spontaneous vegetation (broad and narrow leaf) and mulch were evaluated in 35 areas with different levels of visual degradation. Canonical... |
