The short term effects of time and frequency of burning on native pastures at Katherine, N.T

Abstract

A report is given of the first five years of an experiment at Katherine, N.T., concerned with the effects of time and frequency of burning on the dry matter yield, nitrogen yield and botanical composition of native pasture on Tippera clay loam. Sampling in 1961-62 showed that all burning treatments reduced dry matter yield in comparison with unburned pasture Pasture burned biennially in the late dry season (September) showed the least reduction in yield. Biennial burning was less detrimental than annual burning ; burning in late dry season was less detrimental than burning in early dry season. Burning in late dry season increased the proportion of annuals in the pasture. All treatments other than biennial burning in late dry season reduced the proportion of Themeda australis (R. Br.) Stapf., the dominant perennial grass. Burning biennially in January or in April increased the proportion of Chrysopogon fallax, S. T. Blake. The provisional recommendation for Themeda-Sorghum pastures in the Katherine area is to bum in late dry season at intervals of not less than two years.