TRADITIONAL AND UPDATED EVALUATION OF THE RANGELAND SITE AND CONDITION IN THE SEMIARID SCRUB OF THE HIGH PLATEAU

In Mexico, the concepts of rangeland site and condition are not well known. For this reason, most rangelands private ranches on high plateau San Luis Potosí Zacatecas undergoing a process severe generalized deterioration. The purpose study was to survey characterize multi-branched sites three beef cattle Potosí-Zacatecas High Plateau, as assess their using quantitative ecological method complemented by updated technological tools. hypothesis proposed that evaluated with (used for grasslands soil), technology, also identifiable in type production units Plateau. Based Landsat satellite image, an unsupervised classification performed ranches, which then confirmed field observations. A total 11 were surveyed, each ranch (microphyll desert scrub, predominantly Bouteloua gracilis; microphyll predominance Sporobolus airoides; ecotone between scrub rosetophile scrub) two exclusive locations (crassicaule Muhlenbergia villiflora). Rangeland measuring density volume (volumetric biomass) main plant species, categorized forage value, actual state soil surface assessed terms bare vegetation, litter, feces rock cover. data ordered classified DECORANA TWINSPAN modules from PC-ORD program. Site evaluation under approach satisfactory surveying studied