Suppression of vulpia and goose grass in dryland pastures through the choice of sown pasture species
Abstract
Vulpia (Vulpia myuros) and goose grass (Bromus
hordeaceus) are common annual grass weeds throughout
New Zealand in dryland pastures. They compete with
sown species, suppressing pasture production and
livestock performance. Their seeds may also damage
hides and carcasses. Choice of sown pasture species can
be important in limiting their spread. The abundance
and fecundity of sown vulpia and goose grass was
measured over 1 year in dryland Canterbury pastures
sown with different grass and legume species. Survival
and seedhead production of both vulpia and goose
grass were lower in pastures oversown with the annual
legumes subterranean and balansa clover. Annual grass
weed establishment was also lower in cocksfoot than
perennial ryegrass pastures. In Canterbury dryland
pastures subject to summer drought, cocksfoot-based
pastures oversown with subterranean and balansa
clover show promise as a better alternative to ryegrass-based
pastures for suppressing the ingress of these
species. Repeating this study over several years in
different environments would determine how widely
these conclusions can be applied.... [Show full abstract]
Keywords
annual grass weeds; pasture persistence; weed ingressDate
2010Type
Conference Contribution - published (Conference Paper)Collections
Copyright © The Authors and New Zealand Grassland Association.