Resumen de PF 06. Evaluation of a capacitance meter reading device for forage dry matter. I. Analysis of available modes (Winter).
Different modes for capacitance meter reading are provided. These are well defined for New Zealand pasture situations, but need testing for use in other countries. The aim of this work is to analyse four modes of reading a capacitance meter on different pastures during winter. A native grass pasture and two sowed pastures, 2 and 4 years old, and an annual forage crop were studied. One hundred squares 25x25 cm were cut and dried to estimate dry matter and the mean of 10 measurements in each mode of capacitance meter reading were collected in each pasture. Correlation coefficients computed between capacitance dry matter estimates and values determined through cutting and drying were lower than those cited in literature, between 0.28 and 0.81. The 4 modes differed in their capabilities for estimating average dry matter. Modes 1 and 2 were the most accurate for measuring during winter.
