Original Research

A cover meter for canopy and basal cover estimations

R. H. Westfall, M. D. Panagos
Bothalia | Vol 15, No 1/2 | a1124 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v15i1/2.1124 | © 1984 R. H. Westfall, M. D. Panagos | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 29 October 1984 | Published: 06 December 1984

About the author(s)

R. H. Westfall, Botanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, South Africa
M. D. Panagos, Botanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, South Africa

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Abstract

A simple, inexpensive, pocket-sized cover meter for estimating both canopy and basal cover is described. The cover meter is based on the visual superimposition of canopy-to-gap ratio scales, on to vegetation. Tests indicate that, in certain vegetation types, accuracy is comparable to the wheel-point apparatus in estimating basal cover. Canopy cover is estimated in classes according to the Domin-Krajina cover-abundance scale.


Keywords

basal cover; canopy cover; grassland; method; woodland

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