The manipulation of species composition of natural pastures by grazing management on the northern slopes of New South Wales.

Lodge, G. M.; Whalley, R. D. B.

doi:10.1071/rj9850006

Cited by 48 publications

(33 citation statements)

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“…Microlaena stipoides and a large number of Danthonia species were probably sub-dominants 451 of the understorey of the original grassy woodland vegetation which characterised many areas of the temperate high-rainfall zone before European settlement (Lodge & Whalley 1989). Some ecotypes of these species have proved extremely tolerant to the combined stresses of grazing and drought during the period of agricultural development which has ensued (Lodge & Whalley 1989;Munnich et al 1991;Garden et al 1993;Simpson & Langford 1995).…”

Section: Ecological Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pastoral value and production from native pastures

Jones¹

1996

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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The fundamental importance of maintaining a permanent groundcover of healthy deep-rooted perennial species is becoming more widely recognised in Australia. While a short-term increase in animal production can be achieved by replacing an old pasture with a new one, most sown pastures in the high-rainfall zone have proved to be inherently unstable and have degraded over time to low-productivity pastures dominated by pioneer species of annual grasses and broad-leaved weeds. Recent research has shown that grazing tolerant native species such as microlaena and danthonia, which utilise facultative seeder/sprouter regenerative strategies, can both increase groundcover over time and provide high-quality forage for domestic livestock. However, sown native pastures, if based on a limited number of species, may also prove to be unstable. A change in species orientation from introduced to native is unlikely to halt land degradation unless it is accompanied by radical changes to land management practices, including new approaches to grazing management and pasture improvement technology.

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Section: Ecological Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some ecotypes of these species have proved extremely tolerant to the combined stresses of grazing and drought during the period of agricultural development which has ensued (Lodge & Whalley 1989;Munnich et al 1991;Garden et al 1993;Simpson & Langford 1995). This may be due to a combination of several factors.…”

Section: Ecological Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pastoral value and production from native pastures

Jones¹

1996

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…The results achieved may not be quite as good as a newly sown pasture, but may come close and are likely to be more cost-effective. The three major factors producing changes in the species composition of native and natural pastures in the absence of climatic change are grazing, fertiliser application, and fire (Lodge & Whalley 1989). A review of the effects of these factors by Whalley (1980) set the scene for the development of strategies aimed at the deliberate manipulation of species composition.…”

Section: Managing Pasture Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a study of the phenology of Aristida and Danthonia linkii (the main desirable species on the north-western slopes in New South Wales), Lodge (1983) established that while both species had a similar period of flowering in late summer and autumn, D. linkii also flowered in spring. Seedlings of D. linkii were more commonly emerging in winter than seedlings of Aristida.…”

Section: Managing Pastures With Desirable and Undesirable Native Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Danthonia spp. are some of the most valuable native grasses in temperate Australia because of their persistence, palatability, and productivity, especially during winter, whereas A. ramosa has a low nutritive value for most of the year, which limits animal performance and produces sharp three-awned seeds which can penetrate the skin of sheep (Lodge & Whalley 1989), causing severe discomfort, and losses in liveweight, wool production, and skin values (Lodge & Hamilton 1981). Simple, low-cost strategies were needed to reduce the abundance of A ramosa, as much of the area affected is on unproductive land of low capital value.…”

Section: Managing Pastures With Desirable and Undesirable Native Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Managing the composition of native and naturalised pastures with grazing

Kemp¹,

Dowling²,

Michalk³

1996

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Many native, naturalised, and low-input pastures have a low proportion of desirable species. Under the prevailing economic conditions, it is unlikely that these pastures would be replaced with sown native species as there may not be seed of suitable cultivars available and costs would exceed returns. Better management is a preferable strategy to improve the proportion of desirable components. Grazing tactics are central to any improved management strategies for these pastures as they offer a lower cost option for land managers. Additional tactics, which will vary depending upon specific circumstances, include some use of fertiliser (to increase the rate of change), herbicides (where weed problems are particularly severe and animals are unlikely to eat the "weeds"), and fire (to reduce dead material and seed numbers and produce green leaf for grazing). Several examples of manipulating pasture composition are considered. In situations where the desirable species are C3 perennial grasses (e.g., Danthonia spp., Microlaena, and Dactylis), and the less desirable are C3 annual species (e.g., Vulpia), rests over the summer period, especially in wetter years, improved the perennial grass content. In addition, extra grazing pressure in spring limits seed set by annual grasses. Where the undesirable species are C4 perennial grasses (e.g., Bothriochloa and Aristida), heavy summer grazing is more important. In some A96016Received 15 January 1996; accepted 27 August 1996 instances, the timing of a heavy grazing period will depend upon monitoring the plant community to find the "window of opportunity" when the desirable species have completed flowering and seed set but when the less-desirable species are starting to flower. Further development of improved management systems will require knowledge of the ecology of the principal species. Any release of new cultivars of native and low-input species should be supported by knowledge of the better management practices to maintain those species in the pasture.

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