%0 Journal Article %J The Southwestern Naturalist %D 1991 %T Estimating aboveground biomass in tallgrass prairie with the harvest method: determining proper sample size using jackknifing and Monte Carlo simulations %A J. M. Briggs %A Alan K. Knapp %K tallgrass prairie %X

Sample adequacy for estimating aboveground biomass in the Flint Hills (Kansas) tallgrass prairie was determined by using a combination of jackknifing and Monte Carlo simulations. Based on this analysis, we concluded that 14 and 16 0.1 -m2 (20 by 50 cm) quadrats should be harvested in burned and unburned sites, respectively, when estimating total, live graminoid and previous years dead biomass. However, 20 quadrats should be harvested to detect at least a 20% difference in production between sites due to treatments such as fire. Due to high variability in forb biomass, other measurements (cover or density) may be more appropriate for detecting fire effects on this group of plants

%B The Southwestern Naturalist %V 36 %P 1 -6 %G eng %M KNZ00307 %R 10.2307/3672110