Methods of clearing and woody weed control in the Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populinea) lands.

Abstract

Eucalyptus populnea Eucalj'ptus populnea (poplar or bimble box) can be controlled by ringbarking, mechanical pulling and by direct chemical appiication; fire alone has little effect. The initial ringbarking usually kills only a small percentage of trees, but repeated removal of the coppice growth leads to a complete kill. Mechanical pulling under favourable soil moisture conditions can remove many of the fignotubers from the ground and Little regrowth occurs, but in dry soils the trees break off at or near ground level and profuse re- growth occurs from the broken stumps. Chemical injection treatment, using the picloram compounds or 2,4,5-T, is probably the most economical method and high percentage kills can be obtained under all seasonal conditions. Of the shrub associates of poplar box, Eremophila mitchellii can be effectively controlled by basal stem sprays of 1.0% butyl 2,4,5-T in diesel distillate, whilst shrubs such as Cassia nemophila, C. artemisioides and Acacia deanei have been shown to be suscep- tible to fie under suitable fuel loads. Other important shrub species have reacted in varying degrees to both chemical and fue treat- ment.