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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(5)

Effect of grazing strategy, ryegrass overdrilling and herbicide application on vulpia content, tiller density and seed production in perennial pastures

K. N. Tozer A G H , D. F. Chapman A , P. E. Quigley B E , P. M. Dowling C , R. D. Cousens D and G. A. Kearney B F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Agriculture and Food Systems, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.

C School of Rural Management, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 883, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.

D School of Resource Management, Burnley Campus, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic. 3121, Australia.

E Present address: 94 Leura Lane, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.

F Present address: 36 Paynes Road, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.

G Present address: Ruakura Research Centre, East Street, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.

H Corresponding author. Email: Katherine.Tozer@agresearch.co.nz

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(5) 632-640 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06144
Submitted: 24 April 2006  Accepted: 11 November 2007   Published: 7 April 2008

Abstract

Vulpia species C.C. Gmel. are annual grass weeds that can reduce the productivity of perennial pastures throughout southern Australia. To develop more effective strategies to manage vulpia, a 3-year experiment was established in western Victoria (average annual rainfall: 625 mm) comparing different methods currently used to control this weed. Overdrilling perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed and simazine application treatments were applied to phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) pastures that were set-stocked or rotationally grazed (either as a four-paddock or strategic rotation) with Merino ewes. The content of vulpia, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and other annual grasses as a proportion of total dry matter increased, and the proportion of phalaris decreased in most grazing treatments throughout the experiment. The mean vulpia content was lowest and the phalaris content was highest in the four-paddock rotation, whereas vulpia content was greatest and phalaris content was lowest under set-stocking. Simazine application in June with or without ryegrass overdrilling reduced the number of vulpia tillers/m2 in 2000 and 2001 and vulpia panicle production in 2000, although vulpia populations increased to pretreatment levels in herbicide-treated swards by 2002. The number of vulpia seeds in the soil seed bank was not affected by any of the treatments. The most effective treatment was a combination of ryegrass overdrilling and herbicide application in the four-paddock, rotationally grazed pastures. This experiment highlights the need for an integrated approach to manage vulpia since relying on herbicide application alone is ineffective. This is particularly the case when competitive pasture species are unable to adequately utilise available resources and prevent a recovery in vulpia populations.


Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management for funding this project and to members of the Sustainable Grazing Systems team from the Pastoral and Veterinary Institute, Hamilton, Victoria, for technical assistance and advice.


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