Capeweed and Paterson’s Control

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Capeweed & Paterson’s Curse

Capeweed & Paterson’s Curse

Capeweed & Paterson’s Curse

Capeweed & Paterson’s Curse

Controlling Paterson’s Curse & Capeweed

Latest stages to control these weeds

Why??

Capeweed

• Likes false breaks – soil temp. 15 deg• Early rains with 3-5 weeks dry best• Rarely germinates after a late break• Seed remains in soil for years• On surface lasts for 2 years• Wrapped in wool improves germination

Toxicity of Capeweed• accumulate nitrate levels high enough (2-4.7% dry

matter) to cause toxicity to stock especially after spraying with hormone herbicides like 2,4-D

• Early season spraying in warmer temperatures and in dull weather is associated with increased risk of toxicity

• Avoid grazing with horses, pigs and young or breeding stock. Animals that have suffered previous nutritional stress appear to be more susceptible to poisoning

Symptoms of Poisioning

• Depression, loss of appetite, pale mucous membranes, salivation, gasping, muscle tremors, staggering, collapse, coma and death.

• Cattle may suffer rapid death within an hour of exposure

Paterson’s Curse

• Germinates on false break• Not a good competitor• Can germinate with a summer rain• Seeds at up to 30,000 seeds per sq metre• Extremely toxic to horses• contains compounds known as pyrolizidine

alkaloids•  the metabolites of which cause cell death

in organs throughout the body

Paterson’s Curse• Liver damage is cumulative

• Grazing on it in years when there is little

• Then suffering when it is a big year

• Non-preferred grazing -- first green pick

Paterson’s Curse

• Contains damaging alkaloids• Damages sheep livers• Copper toxicity ----------- care• Cumulative• Plants have higher alkaloid levels

at flowering

ALLELOPATHY Refers to the chemical inhibition of one species by another These chemicals can inhibit root & shoot growth & nutrient uptake Prevent other plants from using resources

Examples of Allelopathic Plants

• Examples are some gums (sugar gum), wattles, Casuarinas,• Lucerne, clover, vetch and Patersons curse and capeweed?

What does this mean?

• These weeds will out compete pasture

• Leave bare ground in summer

• More potential for these two weeds

• Paterson’s Curse can produce 30,000 seedsper square metre

Control Methods

• Control when the weeds are small

• Have some competition for bare space

• Plant competitive species– clover, ryegrass

Control Methods

Spray-Graze• sub-lethal doses of chemicals• “sweetens” up weeds making it

attractive to stock• Must graze heavily after 7 days• Need good mix of other species• Take stock off enabling pasture to

recover

Chemical Control

Broadstrike /Multitude• 25g per ha – low rate• Very “soft”, clover, lucerne, grass safe• Add wetter• Works best on sunny days• Good on wild radish, mustards, • Add wetter, oil• Add Igran /Salvation for

increased control

Chemical Control

Trigrex – Nugrex – various

• Combination mixed product• Great on smaller weeds• Safe on clovers etc• Graze after will improve control• Stick to the above brands – different

solvents• Wetter

Chemical Control

Agtryne• Combined trybryne and MCPA• Single rate – single product• Great for heavy infestations• Some clovers are effected• Rates – • Don’t add wetter!!! There is enough in it

Chemical Control

Igran/Salvation + MCPA• Mix the rate to suit the weed size• Start with 300+300 – move up to 500+500

as weeds get bigger• Can be used alone if needed but MCPA seems

• To soften Salvation• No Wetter• Prefer Salvation as it has a new

cold stable formulation!!

Chemical Control

Metsulfuron – Brushoff, Ally, various

• Low rates --- Add wetter

Care needs to be taken cleaning sprayer

• Will kill clover – cannot plant pastureas there is a residual

Chemical Control

• And of course Amine 625

• Only spray between April and August

• Must graze or weeds will recover

• 500 mls/ha

• Many brands

Summary

1. Identify the weeds2. SPRAY EARLY – let the pasture take over3. Have good pasture species to dominate4. Don’t graze good pasture to leave bare ground5. Plant alternative vegetation

SPRAY EARLY

MOST IMPORTANT

SPRAY EARLY-Plan Now!!

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