Development of a cartographic tool for the management of pastoral resources through a combined approach of remote sensing and modeling

Population growth coupled with urbanization are generating determining changes into livestock development owing to the increasing demand of animal products whereas forage resources are becoming scarce. In this alarming context, a monitoring and evaluation system seems to be necessary to estimate above-ground forage biomass quantity. Therefore, a combined approach of remote sensing, modelization and computer programming is used to create a cartography tool for forage resources quantity estimation. This tool was developed based on ground agronomic measurements datas coupled with satellite-images datas to elaborate forage biomass quantity prediction models. These models were then applied to several archived satellites images to track temporal profile production of different forage species through juxtaposition of 4 066 vegetation index (NDVI) extracts. For each satellite image acquisition, temporal profile equation parameters were modified to calculate new biomass yields through assimilation of datas obtained from satellite-image-prediction. Biomass exploitation status and animal carrying capacity of different pasture plots predicted by these models are helpful datas in decision-making for optimal management of plots utilization. Models were thereafter implemented in a cartographying and piloting interface from a web page. Therefore, it is possible to draw a plot on satellite image as background and to calculate different indicators for this plot. Through the same interface Web, these models can be utilized as a prospective tool for the estimation of forage production over several weeks from satellite image acquisition date. This tool was conceived to assist rural development actors in counseling livestock farmers for optimal management of forage resources.