native grasses - revegetatin fact sheet

8/9/2019 Native Grasses - Revegetatin Fact Sheet

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Revegetation Fact Sheet

Native GrassesNative pastures for the Mallee

There are many species of native grasses found

around South Australia adapted to a wide rangeof soils and conditions. They have a high natureconservation value being a major food source andhabitat to many native birds, lizards andmammals. Many appear after fire, providingprotection for the soil and germinating trees andshrubs.

Most native grasses are perennials and can bedivided into cool season grasses C and warm3season grasses C . The terms C and C refers to4 3 4

their carbon fixation pathway in photosynthesis.Characterises of C plants are that many are frost3tolerant, stay green in winter and actively grow inwinter, whereas C plants are nearly all are frost4susceptible, dormant in winter and actively grow insummer.

IdentificationNative grasses on farms can be found in areas

where there has been no cultivation, in remnantbush, along fence lines or roadsides. They canoften be seen while flowering and are usually stillgreen through summer. For identification it is betterto collect the whole plant with seed spikes.

Potential Benefits

Rain and soil moisture are used more efficientlyby using cool and warm season speciesAnimal production is maintained over thesummer and autumn period by grazingpastures that grow in both warmer and coolerseasonsDryland salinity is minimised by using rainfalland soil moistureSeed productionMinimising soil erosionLow use of fertiliserPresent in many areas avoiding establishment

cost

UsesPasture for stockRevegetation sitesMine and quarry site rehabilitationStabilising banks in waterwaysGrowing in between rows in orchards orvineyardsNative animal habitatSpecies can grow on harsh, hilly landscapes on

stony, shallow soilAmenity landscaping

DisadvantagesScarcity and high price of seedLarge areas of native pasture that needs to besown to provide sufficient feedDifficulty in harvesting and sowing seedMany native grasses have a dormancy periodcausing problems in establishmentSeed can contaminate fleeces and carcasses ifgrazed incorrectly

Native pasturesNative grasses were the backbone of our earlygrazing industries. Wallaby grass (Austrodanthoniaspp) was prized by graziers at the turn of thecentury and interest only changed with theintroduction of superphosphate and importedspecies that relied on it.

In low rainfall areas, it can prove difficult toestablish introduced species, often failing topersist, especially during a drought. But nativegrasses are mostly perennial, persistent, droughtand frost resistant as well as palatable and havegood water use efficiency. Their ability to withstandharsh conditions and poor soils makes them avaluable pasture component.

Two new varieties of Wallaby grass 'Taranna' and'Bunderra' were released in NSW 1997 whichpersist under heavy grazing and is abundant andhigh yielding in many environments.

Strategic grazing and resting management is vital

for the sustainability of native pastures.

Mid-North Grasslands Working Group

'Native pastures are vital for the long termproductivity and sustainability of many grazingenterprises in the Mid and Upper North of SA'l

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Grazing ManagementGrazing management is based on the speciespresent in the pasture and their growth cycle. Allgrasses, whether introduced or native are at theirhighest digestibility and quality when activelygrowing.

Rotational grazing and strategic spelling or restingis important to give plants time to recover and

restore leaf area and root reserves, and to allowplants to flower and set seed so that self seedingcan thicken up the pasture.

The Mid North Grasslands Working Group carriedout trials in the Mid North of South Australia overthree years, showing that with correct grazingstrategies farmers could increase their stockingrates on native grass pastures, increase water-useefficiency and reduce bare ground.'One of the significant results from the project wasthe 60% increase in stocking rate achieved in thecell grazing treatment'.

Cell grazing is based on plant growth rate andgrazing at high stock numbers for a short period.

'The most significant changes recorded on all siteswas an increase in average pasture growth ratesand water use efficiency which resulted in anincrease in stocking rates'Mid North Grasslands Working Group

Pasture developmentSome native grass pasture can be modified byincreasing autumn-spring growth by over sowingwith annual legumes and fertilising. This would bedetermined by what grasses are present andrequired management. A Danthonia/Clover mix orBothriochloa/Clover mix works well by restrictingthe clover component to 20% of the pasture andensuring adequate grazing pressure to avoid

clover dominance in spring.

EstablishmentWeeds and other introduced pasture species needto be controlled one or two years before sowingnative grasses. This is very important to reducedcompetition and allows the grasses to establish. Inmost cases cultivation is not recommended as thisonly increases weed germination, which mustagain be sprayed out before sowing.

Do not fertilise as this only benefits the introducedspecies.

Generally, sow cool season grasses C in autumn3and warm season grasses C in spring at a rate of4100-200 viable seeds per square metre ensuringgood soil to seed contact.

Due to genetic variations within a species it isimportant to know where your seed is sourced. Ifpossible collect seed from an area as near as

practicable to your site or if purchasing seed selecta form that is suitable.

Frosttolerant

Droughttolerant

Productiont/ha

Foragevalue

Crudeprotein %

Digestibility%

Responseto fertiliser

Enneapogon moderate 15 62.1

Bothriochloa low-moderate high 3.8 - 10.4 low-moderate 4.4 - 14.5 48 - 59 increase

Austrodanthonia high high 5 - 7.8 moderate-high 10 - 17 45 - 74 increase

Chloris low-moderate moderate 0.32 - 2.8 moderate 9.4 - 10.9 55 - 68 increase

Austrostipa high high 2.0 low-moderate 3 - 17


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Spring Summer Autumn WinterFlowering times

Bothriochloa

Austrodanthonia

Austrostipa

Chloris

Enneapogon

Spear Grass (Austrostipa spp)A tufted perennial, with rough to touch leaves thatare covered in minute hairs. Seed heads areusually open and contain pointed seeds with longsharp awns. The awns are a survival mechanismthat buries the seed into the ground using a

corkscrew effect; it is these awns that are a majorcontaminant in fleeces and carcasses.

Harvesting and establishment:Harvest seed in November by hand stripping andsurface sow the following spring or autumn,

0germination occurs at 15-25 C. The long awnswill spiral vigorously when moistened and upondrying, burying the seed into the soil. Seeddormancy is from 4-11 months depending onspecies. Grazing heavily in spring will reduce

the potential for seed contaminationWhen established,Austrostipa were observedto dominate and exclude winter active weeds

Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia spp)A tufted perennial with fine, some times hairy,leaves that usually remains green all year. Seedheads are white and fluffy on maturity, producingmany seeds. It is drought resistant, persistent andvalued as a pasture plant.

Harvesting and establishment:Hand, vacuum or brush harvesting from October-December have been successful methods forharvesting, but is difficult to sow mechanicallywithout some form of processing due to the hairynature of the seed. Seed dormancy is from 3-4months. Broadcasting seeds on disturbed groundin spring or autumn when there is available soilmoisture has resulted in good establishment,although a weed free bed is essential.

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Germination occurs at temperatures 15-25 C. Pastures containingAustrodanthonia and cloverneeds to be carefully managed so that cloverdoes not dominate.Danthonia is very sensitive to herbicides.

C (cool) species that grow in the Murray Mallee3

Austrodanthonia spp

Stipa spp

seed

seed

Obtain permissionTo collect native seed from ForestReserves, National parks and WildlifeReserves, Crown Land, roadsides andlocal council reserves a permit isrequired from the National Parks &Wildlife, Department of Environmentand Heritage. Written approval must

also be obtained from the managementauthority before collecting.On private land, written permission mustbe sought from the landholder.Check with the Department ofEnvironment and Heritage beforecollecting.


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Although the Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Association has taken all reasonable care in preparing this information, neither theAssociation or its officers accept any liability resulting from the interpretation or use of the information.

Windmill Grass (Chloris truncata)A prostrate biennial or short lived, 2-3 yearsperennial, 10-50cm high with a dense crownrelying on spring and summer rainfall. Seed headsconsist of 6-9 spikes arranged like spokes in awheel with black seeds.

Harvesting and establishment:

Harvest early summer and autumn, although seedquality is best in early summer. Broadcast seed overthe site in spring to make the most of soil moistureafter the risk of frost.

Better suited to grazing by sheep than by cattle.Applications of phosphate at 50 kg/ha andsulfur 10 kg/ha can significantly increase seedyieldChloris has been reported to have a hightolerance to glyphosate

Black Bottle Washers (Enneapogon

nigricans)Small tufted perennial up to 45 cm tall, the leavesare light green-grey and erect with a single flowerspike. The seed head is dense, dark green turninggrey as seeds fall. Remains green all year.

Harvesting and establishment:Seed harvesting (seeAustrodanthonia) can becarried out between November-December andseed dormancy can be from 4-9 months. Surfacesow from September-April after opening rains with

0germination occurring in temperatures 20-30 C.

Red Grass (Bothriochloa macra)A perennial grass with prostrate leaves and reddish,wiry stems up to 80 cm tall. Seed heads have 3-6silky spikes that fall when ripe. It is droughtresistant, persistent and valued for its soilconservation in heavily grazed summer pastures.

Harvesting and establishment:Optimum time for harvesting is when seed headsare reddish in colour and seed readily falls at tips

of spikes. Seed has a short dormancy period of afew months. Sow in spring or early autumn(seedlings can be damaged by frost) seed will

0germinate between 20-40 C. Harvested seed-bearing hay spread over the site is also a methodfor establishing grass.

Best grazed in early summer to prevent seed setas grass with seed heads is avoided by stock.

For further information contact:Murray Mallee LAP, PO Box 2056, Murray Bridge SA 5253, ph: 08 8531 2066

Native Grass Resources Group Inc, Mount Lofty Ranges Catchment Centre, Upper Level, Cnr Mann & Walker Street,Mt Barker, SA 5251 ph: 08 8391 7500Mid North Grasslands Working Group, PO Box 12, Brinkworth SA 5464 ph: 08 8846 6086

Produced by Barbara Martin, hetta designs 2005

Chloris truncata

Enneapogon nigricans

Bothriochloa

immature seed head

mature seed

seed

seed

CSU Herbarium

seed

C (warm) species that grow in the Murray Mallee4

native grasses - revegetatin fact sheet

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