Field data collection was conducted on approximately 650 rangeland PSUs (17 states) in the 2003. In 2004, the sample number was increased to approximately 2500 PSUs. Approximately the same number of PSUs will be visited in 2005. Data collection is being conducted in the following general areas:

· Soils and ecological site characteristics

· Rangeland health and soil stability

· Point transects for species composition

· Line intercept transects for basal and canopy cover

· Disturbances, practice application and treatment needs

· Noxious and alien/invasive plant presence

· Production plots

Changes for 2005

There have been no protocol changes since 2004. There have been a few minor CASI changes which include:

1. The ability to not navigate to a point has been added to the navigation screen. This option should be only used when the ownership of a point has changed or been corrected to Federal or the land cover type is obviously not rangeland.

2. The % dry weight and % climate data entry cells have been converted to choice lists.

3. The calculated reconstructed weight (lbs/acre) is now displayed on the parameters section of the production module.

4. Unknown plants can now be associated with functional plant groups and uniquely identified for a specific point.

5. Unknown plants identified to functional group can now be selected in the production protocol.

CASI Download

NASIS Soil Look-up Tables

Instructions

Help Desk

5/24/2005

Data Collection Protocol Summary

	This document contains a brief summary of protocols planned for the 2005 Rangeland NRI Study. The document displays computer assisted survey instrument (CASI) screens and provides a short summation of data entry and expectations for each screen. Detailed instructions are currently under development.

	Data Gatherers Entry for data collection team members and job titles. PSU ID information displayed for information. Changes for 2005: None Ownership and Land Cover/Use Navigation, land cover and transect end capture Ownership Land cover/use must be 250(rangeland) and non-federal to collect rangeland data. Changes for 2005: The ability to not navigate to a point has been added to the navigation screen. This option should be only used when the ownership of a point has changed or been corrected to Federal or the land cover type is obviously not rangeland.

$C:\Documents and Settings\hobu\Desktop\overview_files\4.gif$ Sample Transect Layout	Plot layout Two 150 ft transects oriented NW- SE and NE – SW. Intersect at the NRI sample point North, south, east and west quadrants are identified for some types of data collection. Changes for 2005: None

	Landscape and Soils Landscape and soil data elements. Choice lists for most NASIS SSAID and MUSYM brought forward from 2001 NRI. Soil Component name and ID optional depending upon make-up of data collection team. Changes for 2005: None

	Ecological Site Information Choice lists for all data elements Historic 1992 Ecological site brought forward for information Existing list of current Ecological site numbers and names also provided as choice list. Changes for 2005: None

	Rangeland Health Rangeland health protocol (same as in BLM/NRCS publication) Two screens Summary information provided on set II screen. Changes for 2005: None

	Noxious Weed and Invasive/Alien Plants Sub-list of noxious and invasive or alien plants is created from the two provided plant data bases Record species by quadrant along with an estimate of degree of invasion (from choice list). On board data bases include: NRCS plant data base National noxious weed data base Plants can be sorted by common or scientific name. Plant symbol is displayed as the code. Changes for 2005: None

	Disturbance Indicators Record presence or absence of a number of past or present disturbances. Two screens. Changes for 2005: None

	Conservation Practices Record presence/need of a number of conservation practices Two screens Changes for 2005: None

	Resource Concerns This replaced the treatment needs protocol followed in 2003. Changes for 2005: None

	Soil Stability Test Basically a soil aggregate stability test, which provides information on the degree of soil structural development and erosion resistance. This test measures the stability of the soil when exposed to rapid wetting. Name has been altered to avoid confusion with other soil aggregate stability test. Involves some special equipment that will be provided to data collection teams. Changes for 2005: None

	Line Point Transects for Cover Composition Rapid , accurate method for quantifying species composition, ground cover, litter, rocks and biotic crusts. Completed at 1 or 3 foot intervals along transects (still under evaluation). Sub-list of plants can be created by the user from the large National plants database. Top, basal, and NS layer must be entered. Up to 6 canopy species could be entered prior to the basal layer. Changes for 2005: None

	Line Intercept Transects for Canopy Cover Provides an estimate of canopy gaps along both transects. Need special equipment. Large gaps between plants are important indicators of potential wind and water erosion and weed invasion. Enter beginning an end of gap to the nearest 0.1 of a foot. Changes for 2005: The unknown list of functional plant groups has been consolidated and reduced in numbers. This list of unknown functional groups can now also be selected in the production protocol when a plant cannot be identified.

	Cover, Density and Height $C:\Documents and Settings\hobu\Desktop\overview_files\16.gif$ The short pole is used for sighting; the longer pole has black and white stripes 0.1 foot wide. Cover density is measured from the eye of the sighter against the black and white stripes. The sighter is offset from the transect a few feet. Provides an estimate of cover density along both transects at pre-determined intervals (left column). Need special equipment. Right most column for estimate of canopy height. Hard to do with just one person as you sight back to the cover pole located on the transect (from approximately 12 feet). See picture (above). Changes for 2005: None

	Species Composition by Weight Herbaceous and Woody plot production and similarity Index calculations Herbaceous plots on both transects - allspecies Woody plots on one transect. Check W if woody plant. Record all plant species and associated weight to the nearest gram. Also provides for entry of data for similarity index information. Recon screen: Enter information of yield reconstruction including dry weight percentage, percent ungrazed, percent of total growth, climate adjustment and percentage allowed by species based on ecological site description. Similarity index is then calculated and displayed under parameters. Woody plots on both transects at 37.5 and 112.5 feet. Check W if woody plant. Changes for 2005: 1. The reconstructed weight in lbs/acre is now displayed on the params screen. 2. Plants that cannot be identified can now be assigned to a general functional group. Identification of all plants to a genus/species is strongly encouraged.