written by Karen Colson and Jason Karl
Method Type
Vegetation Structure/Obstruction – Quantitative
Other Names
None known, but names of structure/obstruction methods are not standard.
Description and Uses
The Cover Pole Method is used to evaluate vertical cover and vegetation structure. Instead of a cover board, it uses a 1.5m high pole marked every 10cm in alternating colors. The number of segments of the pole that are obstructed by vegetation when viewed from a specified distance away are recorded and converted to vertical cover measurements.
Advantages and Limitations
Similar Approaches
Other vertical structure/obstruction methods include the Cover Board Method, Line-point Intercept with Height, and the Visual Obstruction Method.
Manuals/Instructions
Video Instructions/Demonstration
<flashplayer width=600 Height=400>file=http://jornada.nmsu.edu/files/Videos/CovPole/VegetationUsingStructureCoverPole.flv</flashplayer>
Video from the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Alternate method for the cover pole method
<flashplayer width=600 Height=400>file=http://jornada.nmsu.edu/sites/jornada.nmsu.edu/files/Videos/AltCover/AlternateCoverPole.flv</flashplayer>
Video from the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Technical and Application References
Data Forms
Printable data forms for the cover pole method can be downloaded from
Electronic data forms can be found at the following sites
- Vegetation Structure data using the cover pole method can be recorded directly into the Rangeland Database in the field.
- An Excel version of the cover pole method data form that automatically calculates cover percentages can be found at the Jornada Experimental Range Monitoring and Assessment Site.
- An version of the cover pole Excel form that is compatible with electronic PDAs can also be downloaded from the Jornada Experimental Range Monitoring and Assessment Site.
Web Search Results
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