The below diagram illustrates the components of TSDM (measured in kg/ha) to assist with understanding Cibo Lab pasture biomass estimates.
Total Standing Dry Matter is reported in Kilograms of Dry Matter per Hectare. This is important for users of the Cibo Labs imagery to understand. ‘Dry Matter’ refers to the weight of plant material available without water.
Dry Matter provides a consistent measure to compare feeds and pasture types across grazing environments or when developing livestock rations. All pastures, crops and feeds contain some degree of moisture. However water offers no nutritional value to livestock. And, due to the variation in water content depending on stage of growth and even time of day.
Here are some dry matter averages for pasture types:
- Actively growing lucerne - approx 15%
- Actively growing cereal crops - 20 to 30%
- Partially cured perennial pasture - approx 60 to 70%
- Hay and straw - approx 85%
- 15000kg/ha (wet) = 4500kg/ha dry matter (TSDM)
Total Standing Dry Matter (TSDM) kg/Ha - Definition Diagram
