Integrated shrub management in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia: ground and aerial application of defoliant to shrubs regenerating after disturbance
J. C. Noble A G , W. J. Müller B , N. D. MacLeod C , Z. Bodulovic D , P. Jones E and J. T. Wood B FA CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, GPO Box 284, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, GPO Box 664, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4069, Australia.
D Agtech Pty Ltd, 16 Waite Place, Farrer, ACT 2607, Australia.
E Department of Primary Industries, Locked Mail Bag 6, Emerald, Qld 4720, Australia.
F Current address: Statistical Consulting Unit of the Graduate School, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: jim.noble@csiro.au
The Rangeland Journal 27(2) 117-134 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ05010
Submitted: 30 August 2004 Accepted: 24 August 2005 Published: 21 November 2005
Abstract
This paper describes experiments undertaken at several sites in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia to determine if chemicals applied either on the ground or from the air reduce the density of shrubs regenerating after disturbance. Ground-spraying of Roundup® in the autumn was more effective than spring application in defoliating shrubs, especially 2-year-old coppice growth. Spraying of Roundup with a hand-held boom at 0.5 up to 2.5 kg glyphosate/ha identified rates to be used for boom spraying. Aerial spraying experiments were then undertaken across several sites and involved several target species. The location of sufficiently large areas where shrub regeneration was of an optimum age (i.e. about 2–3 years) proved to be extremely difficult due to prevailing drought conditions precluding the use of prescribed fire as a preliminary treatment. Nonetheless in one experiment, young (1-year-old) regrowth of firebush (Senna pleurocarpa) exhibited increased sensitivity to Roundup with significant shoot mortality recorded after it had been applied at 0.5 kg glyphosate/ha. Aerial spraying based on an ultra-low volume application of 10 L/ha further enhanced cost-effectiveness on this occasion. Economic analyses structured around 20-year partial budgeting and determination of net present value (NPV) suggested a profitable return could be expected where treatment was based on Roundup applied at this threshold rate 2 years after a prescribed fire, especially when the rehabilitation costs were spread over an entire paddock that had been only partially sprayed. Finally, operational aspects involving aerial spraying in these semi-arid woodlands are also discussed.
Additional keywords: adjuvants, arboricides, coppice age, economics, glyphosate.
Acknowledgments
The studies described in this report were undertaken on properties widely dispersed throughout western New South Wales and western Queensland and without the active encouragement of the following collaborating landholders, minimal progress towards determining the potential role of chemical treatments in shrub management would have occurred: Mr Bill Bryant, ‘Baykool’, Augathella, Qld, Mr and Mrs Peter Carmichael, ‘Lochinvar’, Augathella, Qld, Mr Alan Crawford, ‘Maghera’, Bourke, NSW, Mr and Mrs Doug Haig, ‘Moama’, Eulo, Qld, Mr George Jansen, ‘Maruga’, Augathella, Qld, Mr Malcolm McGrice, ‘Wongala’, Girilambone, NSW, Mr and Mrs Herb Manns, ‘Wallangarra’, Cobar, NSW, Mr and Mrs Dave Newsham, ‘Carpet Springs’, Eulo, Qld, Messrs Ron, Lindsay and Rob Newton, ‘Mount Oxley’, Bourke, NSW, and Mr David Snelson, ‘Yarrawonga’, Cobar, NSW.
Able technical support was provided by several people during the course of these experiments but particular thanks are extended to Mr Peter Smart, Bourke Airport Services, whose piloting skills and wide knowledge of pesticide application were critical to the successful establishment of all the aerial spraying experiments. The capable technical assistance provided by Ian Curtis, John McMaster, Gil Pfitzner and Allan Reid (all then CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology, Canberra) and Wil Muller (QDPI, Charleville) during the course of these studies, is gratefully acknowledged. Lois Smart, Alistair Noble and John Barber provided valuable assistance as markers during establishment of the aerial spraying experiments. Tony Grice initially assisted in the selection of the ground-spraying sites at ‘Maghera’, ‘Wallangarra’ and ‘Wongala’ and together with Melissa Dobbie, Ken Hodgkinson, Wal Whalley and two anonymous referees, provided valuable comments on previous drafts of this manuscript. This research was funded by the Australian Wool Research and Development Corporation (Projects CLL 19 and DAQ 85) while chemicals used in the aerial spraying experiments were provided by Monsanto Australia. This combined support is gratefully acknowledged.
Andrew M. H.,
Noble I. R., Lange R. T.
(1979) A non-destructive method for estimating the weight of forage on shrubs. Australian Rangeland Journal 1, 225–231.
Batianoff G. N., Burrows W. H.
(1973) Studies in the dynamics and control of woody weeds in semi-arid Queensland. 2. Cassia nemophila and C. artemisioides.
Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 30, 65–71.
Beeston, G. R. ,
and
Webb, A. A. (1977).
Booth C. A.,
King G. W., Sánchez-Bayo F.
(1996a) Establishment of woody weeds in western New South Wales. 1. Seedling emergence and phenology. The Rangeland Journal 18, 58–79.
Booth C. A.,
Sánchez-Bayo F., King G. W.
(1996b) Establishment of woody weeds in western New South Wales. 2. Growth and competitive potential. The Rangeland Journal 18, 80–98.
Burgess D. M. D.
(1988) The economics of prescribed burning for shrub control in the semi-arid woodlands of north-western New South Wales. Australian Rangeland Journal 10, 48–59.
Burgess, D. M. D. ,
and
Murphy, J. (1989).
Burrows W. H.
(1973) Studies in the dynamics and control of woody weeds in semi-arid Queensland. 1. Eremophila gilesii.
Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 30, 57–64.
Cunningham, G. M. ,
Mulham, W. E. ,
Milthorpe, P. L. ,
and
Leigh, J. H. (1992).
Daly R. L., Hodgkinson K. C.
(1996) Relationships between grass, shrub and tree cover on four landforms of semi-arid eastern Australia, and prospects for change by burning. The Rangeland Journal 18, 104–117.
Dobson, A. J. (1990).
Feng P. C. C.,
Chiu T.,
Sammons R. D., Ryerse J. S.
(2003) Droplet size affects glyphosate retention, absorption, and translocation in corn. Weed Science 51, 443–448.
Gifford R. M., Howden S. M.
(2001) Vegetation thickening in an ecological perspective: significance to national greenhouse gas inventories. Environmental Science Policies 4, 59–72.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greer, H. A. L. ,
McIlvain, E. H. ,
and
Armstrong, C. G. (1968).
Hallé, F. ,
and
Oldeman, R. A. A. (1975).
Harrington G. N.
(1979) Estimation of above-ground biomass of trees and shrubs in a semi-arid Eucalyptus populnea woodland using regression of mass on trunk diameter and plant height. Australian Journal of Botany 27, 135–143.
Harrington G. N.,
Oxley R. O., Tongway D. J.
(1979) The effects of European settlement and domestic livestock on biological systems in poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) lands. Australian Rangeland Journal 1, 271–279.
Hodgkinson K. C.
(1979) The shrubs of poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) lands and their biology. Australian Rangeland Journal 1, 280–293.
Hodgkinson K. C.
(1993) Prescribed fire for shrub control in sheep rangelands.
: ‘Pests of pastures: weed, invertebrate and disease pests of Australian sheep pastures’. (Ed. E. S. Delfosse)
pp. 219–225. (CSIRO Information Services: Melbourne.)
Hodgkinson K. C.
(1998) Sprouting success of shrubs after fire: height-dependent relationships for different strategies. Oecologia 115, 64–72.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodgkinson K. C., Beeston G. R.
(1995)
Eremophila mitchellii Benth.
: ‘The biology of Australian weeds’. (Eds R. H. Groves, R. C. H. Shepherd, R. G. Richardson)
pp. 123–135. (R.G. and F.J. Richardson: Melbourne.)
Hodgkinson K. C., Harrington G. N.
(1985) The case for prescribed burning to control shrubs in eastern semi-arid woodlands. Australian Rangeland Journal 7, 64–74.
Johnson R. W., Back P. V.
(1977a) Relationship between burning and spraying in the control of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth. I. Burning as a pre-spraying treatment. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 34, 179–187.
Johnson R. W., Back P. V.
(1977b) Relationship between burning and spraying in the control of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth. II. Burning as a post-spraying treatment. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 34, 189–196.
MacLeod N. D.
(1993) Economic cost of shrub encroachment in western New South Wales.
: ‘Pests of pastures: weed, invertebrate and disease pests of Australian sheep pastures’. (Ed. E. S. Delfosse)
pp. 58–63. (CSIRO Information Services: Melbourne.)
MacLeod N. D., Johnston B. J.
(1990) An economic framework for the evaluation of rangeland restoration projects. Australian Rangeland Journal 12, 40–53.
MacLeod N. D., Noble J. C.
(2001) Economic and ecological aspects of rehabilitating degraded rangelands within an integrated framework.
: ‘Land degradation’. (Ed. A. Conacher)
pp. 291–303. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht.)
MacLeod N. D., Brown J. R., Noble J. C.
(1993) Ecological and economic considerations for the management of shrub encroachment in Australian rangelands.
: ‘Proceedings of the 10th Australian and 14th Asian-Pacific Weed Conference, Brisbane II’. (Weed Society of Queensland: Brisbane.)
Mathews, G. A. (1979).
Murphy, R. (1989). Economics of some pasture restoration options.
: ‘Australian Rangeland Society/Southern Maranoa Pastoralists Association, Workshop’. Bollon, 25 May, 1989
Noble J. C.
(1986) Prescribed fire in mallee rangelands and the potential role of aerial ignition. Australian Rangeland Journal 8, 118–130.
Noble, J. C. (1997).
Noble J. C.
(2001) Lignotubers and meristem dependence in mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) coppicing after fire. Australian Journal of Botany 49, 31–41.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Noble J. C., Walker P.
(2005) Integrated shrub management in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia: a systems-based decision support model. Agricultural Systems In press ,
Noble J. C.,
Grice A. C.,
Dobbie M. J.,
Müller W. J., Wood J. T.
(2001) Integrated shrub management in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia: effects of chemical defoliants applied after an initial disturbance. The Rangeland Journal 23, 224–258.
Noble J. C., Harrington G. N., Hodgkinson K. C.
(1986) The ecological significance of irregular fire in Australian rangelands.
: ‘Rangelands: a resource under siege. Proceedings of the 2nd International Rangeland Congress, Adelaide’. (Eds P. J. Joss, P. W. Lynch, O. B. Williams)
pp. 577–580. (Australian Academy of Science: Canberra.)
Noble J., MacLeod N., Griffin G.
(1997) The rehabilitation of landscape function in rangelands.
: ‘Landscape ecology, function and management: principles from Australia’s rangelands’. (Eds J. Ludwig, D. Tongway, D. Freudenberger, J. Noble, K. Hodgkinson)
pp. 107–120. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Noble J. C., MacLeod N. D., Ludwig J. A., Grice A. C.
(1993) An evaluation of the potential benefits of integrated shrub control strategies for Australian semi-arid rangelands.
‘Proceedings of IVth International Rangelands Congress’. Montpellier, France. 22–26 April, 1991 (Ed. A. Gaston ,
M. Kernick ,
H. Le Houérou )
pp. 846–849. (Service Central d’Information Scientifique et Technique: Montpellier.)
Patterson H. D., Thompson R.
(1971) Recovery of inter-block information when block sizes are unequal. Biometrika 58, 545–554.
Qin T. K., Gullan P. J.
(1992) A revision of the Australian pulvinariine soft scales (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coccidae). Journal of Natural History 26, 103–164.
Robinson N.
(1996) Landholders at the front-line of weed research. Australian Geographic (January–March), 30–31.
Schall R.
(1991) Estimation in generalized linear models with random effects. Biometrika 78, 719–727.
Scifres C. J.
(1986) Integrated management systems for improvement of rangeland.
: ‘No-tillage and surface tillage agriculture’. (Eds M. A. Sprague, G. B. Triplett,
)
pp. 227–259. (John Wiley and Sons: New York.)
Scifres C. J.
(1987) Decision analysis approach to brush management planning: ramifications for integrated range resources management. Journal of Range Management 40, 482–491.
Scifres, C. J. ,
Hamilton, W. T. ,
Conner, J. R. ,
Ingliss, J. M. ,
Rasmussen, G. A. ,
Smith, R. P. ,
Stuth, J. W. ,
and
Welch, T. G. (1985).
Scifres, C. J. ,
Mutz, J. L. ,
Rasmussen, G. A. ,
and
Smith, R. P. (1983).
Walker J., Gillison A. N.
(1981) Australian savannas.
: ‘Ecology of tropical savannas’. (Eds B. J. Huntley, B. H. Walker)
pp. 5–24. (Ecological Studies, Vol. 42. Springer-Verlag: Berlin.)
1Botanical nomenclature according to Cunningham et al. (1992).
2To avoid unnecessary repetition, this species will hereafter be referred to simply as ‘budda’.
