Digital Image Analysis of Old World Bluestem Canopy Cover and Leaf Area.

WW-B. Dahl Old World bluestem [Bothriochla bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake] is one of the most promising warm-season perennial bunch grasses for use as forage in the Texas High Plains. WW-B. Dahl presents well under dryland conditions, and exhibits late-season flowering, which delays the decline in forage quality associated with reproductive development. It can also maintain excellent stands after 10 years without significant losses. Applying digital image analysis (DIA) allows low-labor monitoring of live (green) canopy cover by recording overhead images of the grass canopy using an inexpensive digital camera and ImageJ, a public-domain program. The objective is to determine the potential for using canopy cover from DIA to estimate leaf area index, percentage light interception and forage biomass.  Successful application of  DIA will aid in developing a simulation model of WW-B. Dahl growth under irrigated pastures conditions. Data are presented for the 2013 growing season.