Increasing the perennial grass component of native pastures through grazing management in the 400 - 600mm rainfall zone of central western NSW

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Bowman ◽  
Y. Alemseged ◽  
G. J. Melville ◽  
W. J. Smith ◽  
F. Syrch
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Native Grasslands ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Grazing Strategies ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
Broadleaf Species

Native grass-based pastures in the 400–600 mm rainfall zone of central NSW are an important basis for extensive grazing industries. However, over time they have been invaded by exotic weeds. This study aimed to evaluate several grazing strategies for the maintenance or improvement of native grasslands based on pasture productivity and species diversity. Seven grazing strategies, ranging from set stocking to permanently removing stock, were employed to evaluate the strategy that would best maintain a high proportion of desirable perennial grass species. Grazing treatments were evaluated based on their effects on pasture composition and on the density of selected key grass species such as Enteropogon acicularis (Lindl.) Lazar. (curly windmill grass). Managing the utilisation of the key desirable species E. acicularis combined with weed control was the most successful strategy in terms of increasing the density of the key species, although no treatment increased the proportion of desirable perennial grasses and desirable broadleaf species. This was followed by a ‘farmer’s choice’ strategy, which involved combining phosphorus fertiliser application, weed control and rest from grazing. In contrast, strategies that involved either a ‘summer lockup’ or ‘weed control’ alone performed poorly. It is concluded that native pastures in this region could be rehabilitated, and their productivity restored, by following strategies that provide rest from grazing, based on the utilisation levels of key, species combined with control of annual weeds.

Integrating Herbicide Use and Perennial Grass Revegetation to Suppress Weeds in Noncrop Areas

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob G. Wilson ◽  
Steve B. Orloff ◽  
Donald L. Lancaster ◽  
Donald W. Kirby ◽  
Harry L. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Weed Cover ◽  
Grass Establishment ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
The Impact

AbstractNoncropland such as levees, roadsides, field borders, fencerows, and wildlife areas are vulnerable to weed invasion. Many sites have undergone frequent human disturbance, such as manipulation from surrounding land uses, and lack competitive, desirable vegetation. This study addressed the importance of revegetation in an integrated weed management program including revegetation for noncrop areas. The study evaluated 14 cool-season perennial grasses (seven native species and eight introduced species) for their establishment, vigor, and ability to suppress weeds. It also evaluated the impact of herbicides on weed control and grass establishment. Treatments were applied at three noncrop sites in Northeast California that were heavily infested with weeds. Chemical weed control during the year of seeding and the following year was critical for perennial grass establishment. Weed cover was greater than 50% whereas average seeded grass cover was less than 6% in untreated plots at all sites 2 yr after seeding. In contrast, average seeded grass cover at all sites was 22 to 31% 2 yr after seeding for treatments where herbicide use resulted in wide-spectrum weed control and grass safety. Increasing perennial grass cover decreased total weed cover across perennial grass species 1and 2 yr after seeding. Individual grass species' cover differed among sites. Two introduced grasses (tall wheatgrass and crested wheatgrass) and three native grasses (western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and thickspike wheatgrass) showed broad adaptation and had > 20% cover at all sites 2 yr after seeding. In herbicide-treated plots, these grasses reduced total weed cover by 43 to 98% compared to unseeded plots 2 yr after seeding.

Satellite derived maps of pasture growth status: association of classification with botanical composition

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Vickery ◽  
M. J. Hill ◽  
G. E. Donald
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Fast Growth ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Bayesian Probability ◽  
Cumulative Probability ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pastures

Summary. Spectral data from the green, red and near-infrared bands of Landsat MSS and Landsat TM satellite imagery acquired in mid-spring were classified into 3 and 6 pasture growth classes respectively. The classifications were compared with a site database of botanical composition for the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales to examine the association between spectral growth class and pasture composition. Pastures ranged in composition from unimproved native perennial grasses through semi-improved mixtures of native and naturalised grasses and legumes to highly improved temperate perennial grasses and legumes. For 3 years of MSS data, the fast growth class had a mean botanical composition of about 80% improved perennial grass and 0% native; medium growth class averaged 46% improved perennial grass and 14% native; while the slow growth class had about 60% native and 1% improved perennial grass when averaged over 3 years of MSS data. For the 6 class TM data from a single year, a predictive logistic regression of cumulative probability was developed for percentage of ‘very fast’ growth pixels and ordered 10 percentile categories of improved perennial grass or native grass. Differences in patch characteristics between classes with MSS disappeared with TM reclassified to the same 3 class level. Most probable pasture type was inferred from 3 class MSS and TM data using Bayesian probability analysis. The resulting maps were similar in general appearance but detail was better with the TM data. The pasture growth classification identified highly improved perennial grass pastures and native pastures but sensitivity to intermediate pasture types was poor. Future improvement will come from direct measurement of biophysical characteristics using vegetation indices or inversion of reflectance models.

scholarly journals The search for alternative temperate perennial pasture species for low to medium rainfall environments in Tasmania

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 275-279
Author(s):  
E.J. Hall ◽  
R. Reid ◽  
B. Clark ◽  
R. Dent
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Cool Temperate ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Perennial Legumes ◽  
Pasture Plants

In response to the need to find better adapted and more persistent perennial pasture plants for the dryland pastures in the cool-temperate low to medium rainfall (500-700 mm) regions, over 1000 accessions representing 24 species of perennial legumes and 64 species of perennial grasses, were introduced, characterised and evaluated for production and persistence under sheep grazing at sites throughout Tasmania. The work has identified four alternative legume species in Talish Clover (Trifolium tumens). Caucasian Clover (T. ambiguum), Stoloniferous Red Clover (T. pratense var. stoloniferum), Lucerne x Yellow Lucerne Hybrid (Medicago sativa x M.sativa subsp. falcata); and two grass species in Coloured Brome (Bromus coloratus) and Hispanic Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata var hispanica). Keywords: persistence, perennial grass, perennial legume

Correlations between environmental factors, the biomass of exotic annual grasses and the frequency of native perennial grasses

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja I. Lenz ◽  
José M. Facelli
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Exotic Annual Grasses ◽  
Native Perennial Grass

The species composition of temperate grasslands in the mid-north of South Australia has been radically altered from a system dominated by native perennial grasses to a system dominated by Mediterranean annual grasses. This study investigated the importance of chemical and physical soil characteristics, topographical features and climatic variables on the abundance of native and exotic grass species in nine ungrazed grasslands. Overall, climatic and other abiotic factors were highly variable. In addition, past management practices and original species composition are generally unknown, leading to further unexplained variation in the data. On a large spatial scale (among sites), the abundance of exotic annual grasses was positively correlated with mean annual rainfall, and on any scale, with finer soil textures and higher soil organic carbon levels. The most abundant annual grass, Avena barbata (Pott ex Link), was generally associated with soil factors denoting higher soil fertility. The abundance of native perennial grass species was not correlated with any environmental variables at any scale. The various native perennial grass species did not show clear associations with soil factors, although they tended to be associated with factors denoting lower soil fertility. However, at small spatial scales (within some sites) and among sites, the abundances of exotic annual and native perennial grasses were strongly negatively correlated. The results suggest that at the present time, rainfall and soil properties are important variables determining the abundance of annual grasses. The driving variables for the abundance of perennial grasses are less clear. They may be controlled by other factors or extreme rainfall events, which were not surveyed. In addition, they are likely to be controlled by competitive interactions with the annual grasses.

Effect of Forage Kochia on Seedling Growth of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and Perennial Grasses

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 201-207
Author(s):  
Parmeshwor Aryal ◽  
M. Anowarul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Competitive Effect ◽  
Forage Kochia

AbstractForage kochia [Bassia prostrata(L.) A. J. Scott] is competitive with annual weeds and has potential for use in reclamation of disturbed land. However, land managers are reluctant to use forage kochia in revegetation programs due to lack of understanding of its compatibility with or invasiveness in the native plant community. We conducted two greenhouse experiments, one to compare the competitive effect of forage kochia versus perennial grasses on growth of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorumL.) and one to study the effect of forage kochia on growth of native perennial grasses. In the first experiment, a single seedling ofB. tectorumwas grown with increasing neighbor densities (0 to 5 seedlings pot−1) of either forage kochia, crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum(L.) Gaertner ×A. desertorum(Fisch. ex Link) Schultes; nonnative perennial grass], or thickspike wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus(Scribn. & J. G. Sm.) Gould; native perennial grass].Bromus tectorumgrowth was reduced moderately by all three perennial neighbors, butA. cristatumandE. lanceolatushad more effect onB. tectorumwhen compared with forage kochia. This experiment was repeated and similar results were observed. In the second experiment, forage kochia was grown with each of four native cool-season grass species: basin wildrye [Leymus cinereus(Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve], bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata(Pursh) Á. Löve],E. lanceolatus, and western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii(Rydb.) Á. Löve]. Forage kochia had no effect on height, tiller number, and aboveground biomass of native grasses. Similarly, native grasses did not show a significant effect on forage kochia seedlings. This experiment was also repeated, and forage kochia somewhat reduced the aboveground biomass ofL. cinereusandP. spicata. However, all native grasses significantly reduced change in height, branching, and aboveground biomass of forage kochia. These results suggest that forage kochia interfered withB. tectorumseedling growth, but it showed little competitive effect on native grass seedlings.

The response to moisture and defoliation stresses, and traits for resilience of perennial grasses on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 903 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Boschma ◽  
M. J. Hill ◽  
J. M. Scott ◽  
G. G. Rapp
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Moderate Drought

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of defoliation and moisture stresses on perennial pasture grasses and to identify traits associated with their resilience. The experiment, conducted near Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, studied 4 introduced perennial grass species (Phalaris aquatica, Festuca arundinacea, Dactylis glomerata, and Lolium perenne) and 2 native grass species (Microlaena stipoides and Austrodanthonia richardsonii) subjected to 3 moisture regimes (non-stress moisture, moderate drought, and severe drought) and 2 defoliation intensities (severe and moderate). Basal area, herbage mass, phenological growth stage, nitrogen concentration, root mass, and rooting depth were compared over 2 independent 6-month periods: spring–summer (1 September 1994–28 February 1995) and summer–autumn (1 December 1994–31 May 1995). Multiple regression was used to determine which traits were important for determining plant resilience.The differences between species and their respective responses were evident in the traits measured. In general, basal area tended to increase over summer and show little change during autumn. Severe defoliation stimulated plant growth, resulting in higher harvested herbage mass than from those moderately defoliated. Reproductive development was suppressed by severe drought and reduced by moderate drought. Severe defoliation suppressed flowering of Dactylis and Lolium at both drought intensities, compared with moderate defoliation. Phalaris, Festuca, and Austrodanthonia were the deepest rooting species during spring–summer, and Dactylis the shallowest. All species had similar rooting depths during summer–autumn, with those under severe and moderate drought having the deepest and shallowest rooting, respectively.Carbohydrate reserves and basal area were important traits for determining plant resilience during spring–summer. During summer–autumn, maintaining basal area and plant biomass through moderate grazing was important for resilience.

Effect of drought on morphological and functional traits of Poa ligularis and Pappostipa speciosa, native perennial grasses with wide distribution in Patagonian rangelands, Argentina

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Cenzano ◽  
M. Celeste Varela ◽  
Mónica B. Bertiller ◽  
M. Virginia Luna
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Photosynthetic Pigments ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Senescent Leaf ◽  
Poa Ligularis

Poa ligularis Nees. Ap. Steudel and Pappostipa speciosa (Trin. et Rupr.) Romaschenko are dominant perennial grasses in the arid Patagonian rangelands of Argentina. Both species are exposed to periods of water shortage during spring-summer and are grazed by domestic and native herbivores. Pappostipa speciosa displays xeromorphic adaptations and is less preferred by herbivores than P. ligularis. The knowledge of how drought affects morphological/functional traits in coexisting perennial grass species is useful to understanding the function of desert perennial grasses, and for the use and conservation of Patagonian arid rangelands. The hypothesis of this study was that co-existing perennial grasses contrasting in drought resistance mechanisms display different degrees of phenotypic plasticity in underlying and/or functional traits. Plants of both species were exposed to two levels of gravimetric soil moisture: 16% (~field capacity) and 4%. Plant vegetative and reproductive traits were measured weekly in individual plants and these were harvested at the end of the experiment. Aboveground and root biomass were separated in the harvested plants and the concentration of photosynthetic pigments was assessed in green leaves. The trait response range was also calculated through the plasticity index. In both species, drought stress led to significant reductions in plant height, total plant dry weight, number of total leaves, dry weight of green and senescent leaf, percentage of flowering plants, length of inflorescences, and number, length and dry weight of roots. The concentration of photosynthetic pigments increased under drought in both species. In conclusion, drought strongly affected reproductive and vegetative traits in both species and the greatest negative effect of drought was found in P. speciosa, the most conservative species. However, our findings might indicate that both species are able to maintain photosynthetic activity through the increase of photosynthetic pigments under drought conditions in Patagonian rangelands.

Interspecific Differences in Weed Susceptibility to Steam Injury

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon G. Leon ◽  
Dylan T. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Common Purslane ◽  
Broadleaf Species

Thermal weed control methods have been incorporated into weed control programs in organic and conventional production systems. Flaming is commonly used, but steaming has been proposed to increase efficiency of heat transfer to weeds and reduce the risk of fire. The objective of this research was to measure injury to leaves of plant species that differ in leaf morphology and to measure injury to plants at different stages of plant development. The study was conducted in a glasshouse and plants were exposed to steaming at 400 C for 0.36 s—equivalent to a steaming speed of 2 km/h. Overall, leaf thickness was the best morphological characteristic to predict injury (r2 = 0.51), with greater thickness resulting in less injury. For broadleaf species only, species with wider leaves were injured more than species with narrower leaves (r2 = 0.64). Injury was greatest when plants had fewer than six true leaves and when their shoots were less than 10 cm long. There was a wide range of injury across species, and the grass species bermudagrass and perennial ryegrass were injured (68 to 81%) more than other species such as common purslane and English daisy (23 to 34%). Biomass of all species tested was reduced by approximately 40%, indicating that leaf injury was not the sole effect of steaming on plant growth. These results indicated that considering both visual estimates of injury and morphological characteristics is important to properly assess thermal weed control effectiveness.

The effect of associate perennial grasses on a simple pasture mixture of phalaris and subterranean clover

1956 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Andrew ◽  
CA Neal-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Yield Component ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Small Change

Over the period 1952-1954 there was no significant difference in the yield of herbage produced annually by the addition to a Phalaris tuberosa L.–Trifolium subterraneum L. pasture mixture, of any one of the following grasses: Agropyron obtusiusculum Lange., Bromus coloratus Steud., Bromus inermis Leyss., Dactylis glomerata L., or Festuca arundinacea Schreb. There were indications of a small change in seasonal production where certain grasses, notably D. glomerata, were included in the mixture. Over the 3-year period the proportion of the sown grass component, in the mixtures where either D. glomerata, B. inermis, or B. coloratus were included, increased by a greater amount than where the simple mixture of phalaris and subterranean clover was used. The addition of each grass also lessened the amount of P. tuberosa in the sown grass component of the yield. In the third year, despite the varying proportions of the phalaris and associated sown grass species, the mean population of the sown perennial grasses in each treatment did not differ significantly from the mean figure of 1.34 plants/sq. lk. The increased production of the sown grass yield component following the association of certain of the above species with P. tuberosa suggests that the latter does not fully exploit the environment. The principle of including another perennial grass when sowing phalaris and subterranean clover might have wide application as a means of combatting "phalaris staggers".

Tolerance of perennial pasture grass seedlings to pre- and post-emergent grass herbicides

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
B. C. D. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Research Committee

The tolerance of 5 perennial grasses during the seedling stage to pre- and post-emergent grass herbicides was examined in 3 glasshouse experiments. The perennial grass species screened were phalaris, (Phalaris aquatica L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), wallaby grass [Austrodanthonia richardsonii (Cashm.) H.P. Linder], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were included as non-target species and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) and oats (Avena spp.) as representatives of typical weed species. Herbicides evaluated were fluazifop-p, tralkoxydim, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl + pyrazoline, sethoxydim, flamprop-m-methyl, quizalofop-p-ethyl, clethodim, simazine, imazethapyr, propyzamide, carbetamide, clodinafop-propargyl + cloquintocet-mexyl, propaquizafop, atrazine, trifluralin, triallate, pendimethalin, metribuzin, trifluralin + oryzalin, cyanazine, chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron. Herbicide phytotoxicity was assessed 15 and 30 days after post-emergent herbicide application using the European Weed Research Committee (EWRC) visual score of leaf damage (1 indicating no effect, 9 indicating all plants dead) and plant herbage yield depression relative to the unsprayed control. Plant responses to pre-emergent herbicides were assessed 45 days after sowing. Most herbicides were highly phytotoxic (EWRC score 4–9) to the perennial grass seedlings. However, atrazine, flamprop-m-methyl, imazethapyr, fenoxaprop-ethyl, and triallate caused less severe phytotoxicity (EWRC score 1–4) in phalaris, fescue, cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass from which they could be expected to recover, with yield reductions of between 0 and 45%, 30 days after spraying. Simazine caused yield losses of 20–50% in fescue, phalaris and perennial ryegrass which may be acceptable in swards with high weed burdens. Wallaby grass showed tolerance to flamprop-m-methyl, carbetamide, propyzamide and imazethapyr. Subterranean clover was tolerant of most herbicides with yield losses less than 20% except for the post-emergent herbicides simazine and atrazine, and the pre-emergent herbicides triasulfuron, metribuzin, cyanazine and chlorsulfuron where yield suppression was between 50 and 99%.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document