A Review of Precision Technologies for Optimising Pasture Measurement on Irish Grassland

Darren J. Murphy, Michael D. Murphy, Bernadette O’Brien and Michael O’Donovan
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Darren J. Murphy: Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
Michael D. Murphy: Department of Process, Energy and Transport Engineering, Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland
Bernadette O’Brien: Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
Michael O’Donovan: Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-36

Abstract: The development of precision grass measurement technologies is of vital importance to securing the future sustainability of pasture-based livestock production systems. There is potential to increase grassland production in a sustainable manner by achieving a more precise measurement of pasture quantity and quality. This review presents an overview of the most recent seminal research pertaining to the development of precision grass measurement technologies. One of the main obstacles to precision grass measurement, sward heterogeneity, is discussed along with optimal sampling techniques to address this issue. The limitations of conventional grass measurement techniques are outlined and alternative new terrestrial, proximal, and remote sensing technologies are presented. The possibilities of automating grass measurement and reducing labour costs are hypothesised and the development of holistic online grassland management systems that may facilitate these goals are further outlined.

Keywords: pasture-based agriculture; precision agriculture; remote sensing; spectroscopy; grass measurement; grassland sampling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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