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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(4)

Increasing the perennial grass component of native pastures through grazing management in the 400–600 mm rainfall zone of central western NSW

A. M. Bowman A , Y. Alemseged B D , G. J. Melville B , W. J. Smith B and F. Syrch C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

B Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, PMB 19, Trangie, NSW 2821, Australia.

C ‘Flying Fox Station’, Mataranka, NT 0852, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: yohannes.alemseged@industry.nsw.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 31(4) 369-376 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ08032
Submitted: 25 July 2008  Accepted: 12 May 2009   Published: 27 November 2009

Abstract

Native grass-based pastures in the 400–600 mm rainfall zone of central NSW are an important basis for extensive grazing industries. However, over time they have been invaded by exotic weeds. This study aimed to evaluate several grazing strategies for the maintenance or improvement of native grasslands based on pasture productivity and species diversity. Seven grazing strategies, ranging from set stocking to permanently removing stock, were employed to evaluate the strategy that would best maintain a high proportion of desirable perennial grass species.

Grazing treatments were evaluated based on their effects on pasture composition and on the density of selected key grass species such as Enteropogon acicularis (Lindl.) Lazar. (curly windmill grass). Managing the utilisation of the key desirable species E. acicularis combined with weed control was the most successful strategy in terms of increasing the density of the key species, although no treatment increased the proportion of desirable perennial grasses and desirable broadleaf species. This was followed by a ‘farmer’s choice’ strategy, which involved combining phosphorus fertiliser application, weed control and rest from grazing. In contrast, strategies that involved either a ‘summer lockup’ or ‘weed control’ alone performed poorly. It is concluded that native pastures in this region could be rehabilitated, and their productivity restored, by following strategies that provide rest from grazing, based on the utilisation levels of key, species combined with control of annual weeds.

Additional keywords: Enteropogon acicularis, grazing strategies, pasture utilisation.


Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Natural Heritage Trust for providing the funds to undertake the project. Dr Remy Van De Ven provided the experimental design for the study and Dr Arthur Gilmore checked and commented on the data analysis method used. Acknowledgment is also made to the research station managers Mr Greg Wall and Ms Anne Mabey and technical and farm staff Mr Tom Sneglar, Mr Mathew Reed, Mr Mathew Amos, Mr James Bradford. Thanks are also given to Mr Ian Toole, Mr Robert Pither, and Ms Jayne Jenkins for their help through the course of the study period. We also thank Dr Ron Hacker for his guidance and for his valuable comment on the manuscript.


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