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

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.

Automated summary

The development of precision grass measurement technologies is crucial for the sustainability of pasture-based livestock production systems, as it can increase grassland production in a more accurate and sustainable manner. This review highlights recent research on precision grass measurement technologies, addressing obstacles like sward heterogeneity and introducing alternative sensing technologies for grassland management. The potential for automating grass measurement and reducing labor costs, as well as the development of online grassland management systems, are also discussed.