Consequences of Some One-Off Events and Exclosure on a Red Grass (Bothriochloa Macra)-Wallaby Grass (Danthonia Eriantha) Pasture in the Central West of Nsw.

Abstract

The effects of exotic grass introduction and cultivation, herbicide (glyphosate), burning or nil treatments on an exclosed red grass (Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S.T. Blake) - wallaby grass (Danthonia eriantha Lindl.) pasture in the Central West of NSW were monitored for 3½ years. The exotic grasses (Chloris gayana Kunth cv. Pioneer and Erogrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees cv. Consol) established only in the cultivated plots but soil erosion also occurred in this treatment. Danthonia eriantha was killed by the glyphosate and cultivation treatments and had not re-established after 3½ years. Cultivation also killed B. macra plants but limited recruitment subsequently occurred. Burning had little effect on the survival of either of the dominant native grasses. Seedling recruitment of the two dominant grasses was apparently minimal. However, where plants were not killed by the treatments, they expanded to fill some of the gaps created and D. eriantha appeared to be more competitive than B. macra. An unexpected result was the synchronised ripening of the Bothriochloa seedheads in the first summer following either burning or glyphosate application.