Control of barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) by grazing management in irrigated pastures

Abstract

Deferment of grazing for 10, 20, and 40 days after the first autumn irrigation followed by continuous set stocking was tested as a method of controlling barley grass (Hordeum leporinum). Deferment for 20 days eliminated barley grass almost completely from the pastures in two years. The other deferment treatments were not as successful. Collections from oesophageal fistulae showed that the sheep grazed barley grass seedlings in preference to clover seedlings during the first three days of grazing in each treatment. The experiment was repeated at another site and confirmed the results of the first experiment. Selective grazing and the contrasting germination behaviour of clover and barley grass contributed to the success of grazing management in controlling the weed.