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A CALENDAR YEAR OF PASTURE
MANAGEMENT
Natural Resources - Northern and Yorke Region
CONTENT
What is a good pasture
Seasonal Pasture Management
Pasture plants (legumes and grasses)
Weed and pest control (Biosecurity)
Avoiding erosion
Grazing strategies
Soil testing and fertilisers
Establishing new pastures
What to sow
WHAT IS A GOOD
PASTURE?
A good pasture:
• is productive
• is persistent
• is weed free
• maintains ground cover
• controls erosion
• reduces compaction
WHAT IS A GOOD PASTURE?
6 13 20 27 4 11 18 25 1 8 15 22 29 6
Sept. Oct. Nov.
Ryegrass
flowering
Dry Matter
Digestible Dry Matter
Crude Protein
Kg/ha
2000
4000
6000
Ryegrass/Sub. Clover
PASTURE GROWTH
DRYLAND AND IRRIGATED PASTURE
UTILIZATION
Quality tonnes/DM/ha/annum
Dryland Irrigated
Poor <3.0 <9
Average 3 To 4.5 9 to 12
Good 4.5 To 8 12 to 18
Note 65% of actual production is utilised by livestock.
SEASONAL
PASTURE
MANAGEMENT
AUTUMN
• Maintain 70% ground cover (4cms).
• Lime paddocks in March – April , if necessary.
• Sow new pasture in May.
• Apply fertiliser in May (Phosphorus, Sulphur).
• Control redlegged earth mite, lucerne flea and pasture
cockchafer in May, if present.
SEASONAL PASTURE MANAGEMENT
WINTER
• Avoid boggy ground.
• Rotationally graze paddocks – keep 4 to 5cms pasture height.
• Post emergent control of broadleaf, and some grass weeds.
• Apply NPK fertilizer in late august to hay paddocks. Close
these paddocks off in mid-august if cutting hay.
SPRING
• ‘Spray top’ annual grasses in weedy paddocks in late
September/October (seek professional advice).
• Increase grazing pressure (if possible) on weedy paddocks
not cut for hay. Consider using sheep.
• Cut pasture for hay.
• Slash to control weeds and reduce fire risk.
• Soil test paddocks to determine fertiliser and lime
application rates.
SEASONAL PASTURE MANAGEMENT
SUMMER
• Continue to rotationally graze. Always keep a minimum of
70% cover.
• Control summer weeds.
PASTURE
PLANTS
Understanding plant groups and plant growth habits is an
important aspect to successful pasture management.
Annuals – these plants germinate, grow, set seed and die all
in the same year. The seeds germinate the following
autumn. Examples include Subterranean Clover, Oats,
Annual Ryegrass.
Perennials - live longer than two years, often remaining
dormant through the summer months before re-growing
after the autumn rains. Examples include Cocksfoot,
Perennial Ryegrass, Strawberry Clover.
PLANT GROUPS
Annual Brome
(March)
Phalaris - perennial
(March)
ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS
Cocksfoot – perennial Perennial ryegrass
(Dactylis glomerata) (Lolium perenne)
PASTURE PLANTS
Phalaris – perennial (Phalaris aquatica)
PASTURE PLANTS
Subterranean Clover – annual (Trifolium subterraneum)
PASTURE PLANTS
White clover – perennial (Trifolium repens)
PASTURE PLANTS
Composition of Some Common Hays
Feedstuff Dry Matter
%
Digestibility
%
Energy
MJ/kg
Crude
Protein %
Pasture Hay
- early cut
90 65 9.8 15
Pasture Hay
- late cut
90 60 9.0 12
Lucerne Hay 90 65 9.8 18
Oaten Hay
- early
90 65 9.8 6
Oaten/Vetch
Hay
90 65 9.8 12
LEGUMES AND GRASSES
WEED AND PEST
CONTROL
(BIOSECURITY)
PASTURE PESTS
Lucerne flea Lucerne flea damage
Redlegged earthmite
In severe cases chemical control
may be necessary.
Dimethoate and Le-mat are
options.
Timerite website
(http://www.timerite.com.au).
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds_and_pest_a
nimals/weeds_in_sa
WEED CONTROL
Weed Control App
Weeds of national
significance
SA weed identification
notes
Environmental weeds of
Australia
Global Invasive
Species Database
GRDC Ute Guide App
ON-LINE HELPFUL TOOLS
Capeweed Geranium Salvation jane
PLANT GROUPS – Annual broadleaf
Flatweed Dock
PLANT GROUPS – Perennial broadleaf
In most cases successful weed control will involve the use
of a range of methods and not just rely on herbicide
applications.
1. Prevent weed problems before they start (by limiting
their introduction and spread).
2. Restrict weed growth (by helping your crops or pastures
to compete), and do not overgraze.
3. Soil test & add fertilizer. Lime acid soils.
4. Ensure control measures are effective (e.g. when using
herbicides follow label instructions).
5. Develop a weed management plan
INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT
Manual Removal - is quite effective in controlling small
infestations and isolated plants.
Mowing or Slashing - can be used in conjunction with
grazing for pasture weed control. Slashing or grooming
woody weeds is also be effective
Grazing - can be used in a variety of ways to control weed
growth, but it can also encourage weed invasion if not
managed well.
Foliar spraying – applications of herbicides are a common
way of reducing weeds. This a very effective way of
controlling large infestations of weeds in pasture.
CONTROL METHODS
Non selective herbicides - are those which destroy all types
of plants whether grasses or broadleaf weeds. e.g.
glyphosate which translocates to roots which die, thus
killing the plant.
Selective herbicides – are those which will not destroy
certain groups of plants.
e.g. Fluazifop-p-butyl (Fusilade) will kill grasses but not
damage broadleaf plants.
e.g. Dicamba and MCPA (KambaM) will kill broadleaf
weeds but not harm grasses.
HERBICIDE TYPES
Glyphosate (sold as Roundup)– non selective, often used
prior to re-seeding pastures. Can be used on most types of
weeds and is sometimes mixed with other herbicides.
Metsulfuron methyl (sold as Brushoff or Ally) –
specifically designed for the control of perennial broadleaf
weeds, woody weeds and bulbs. Caution is necessary if
applied near native vegetation.
Diflufenican and MCPA (sold as Tigrex) – a selective
herbicide, often used to control capeweed in pastures.
Dicamba and MCPA (sold as Kamba M) – a selective
broadleaf herbicide often used to control perennial
broadleaf weeds in pasture.
COMMON HERBICIDES
Mature Eucalypts killed by Met-sulfuron methyl used to
control Gorse.
OFF TARGET DAMAGE
Most herbicides are effective when applied to actively growing
plants.
Avoid applying herbicides when plants are under water stress in
dry seasons.
Always follow label instructions, and ensure appropriate safety
equipment is used when mixing or applying chemicals.
Surfactants (e.g. BS1000) and penetrants (e.g. pulse) are often
mixed with herbicides to maximise their effectiveness.
Calibrate your spray unit. If unsure, seek professional advice
before applying any chemicals.
COMMON HERBICIDES
Crown weevil
(Mogulones
larvatus)
Flea beetle
(Longitarsus
echii)
Pollen beetle
(Meligethes
planiusculus)
Root weevil
(Mogulones
geographicus)
SUCCESS OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
SALVATION JANE
CONTROL OF SPECIFIC WEEDS
CAPEWEED (Arctotheca calendula)
The following herbicides will control
capeweed, geranium and salvation jane:
Agtryne MA, 1 litre per hectare.
Rosettes need to be less than 10cms.
Do not use near vines.
Tigrex, 1 litre per hectare. Rosettes need to be less than
10cms. Do not use near vines.
Jaguar, 750 mls per hectare. Rosettes need to be less than
15cms.
An annual grass which, after
it dries off in spring, can
cause problems with eyes,
ears and gums of livestock.
Control measures include
slashing or grazing heavily
with sheep in spring to
reduce seed set.
Post emergent control with
‘Shogun’ herbicide is
effective in legume based
pastures.
BARLEY GRASS (Hordeum leporinum)
Herbicide control
Spray - topping in spring.
This involves applying a low
rate of herbicide after seed
head emergence. It does not
kill the plant, but will
sterilise the seed and
therefore reduce seed-set.
Glyphosate (450g/L) is
applied at a rate of
360mL/ha.
BARLEY GRASS (Hordeum leporinum)
30 minute mark
This weed may be associated
with Australian stringhalt.
Stringhalt usually occurs in
late summer or early autumn
and it most commonly occurs
after a break in dry weather or
drought conditions. Damage
to the long nerves results in
involuntary flexion and
delayed extension of the
hocks.
Herbicide control:
FLAT WEED (Hypochaeris radicata)
Apply Dicamba and MCPA,
or 24D amine in April to
July.
Note: Clover damage can
occur using these chemicals
Cape tulip (one and two leaved)
develops a deep corm and is hard to
grub out. Toxins called cardiac
glycosides are produced – cattle are
most susceptible. Horses can be
affected, sheep less so.
Is a common contaminant of hay.
Herbicide control
Metsulfuron methyl (sold as brushoff
or ally) June to September.
24D amine June to September
CAPE TULIP (Moraea spp.)
REDUCE THE RISK OF WEEDS ENTERING
YOUR PROPERTY
Manage access through signage, logs, permitted tracks,
parking points, other movement controls
Avoid bringing weedy hay onto the property. Feed hay in
one spot and not all over the property
Isolate new livestock to a small area for a few days to
prevent manure spreading weed seeds
Do not over-graze which will encourage weeds in pasture
paddocks
REDUCE THE RISK OF WEEDS ENTERING
YOUR PROPERTY
Regularly inspect paddocks for new
weeds and control immediately.
Wash-down farm machinery after use.
Check contractor machinery to ensure
no soil or weed seeds are present.
Long term – plant native vegetation buffers along boundary
fences.
AVOIDING
EROSION
The Importance of Ground Cover
1
2
3
4
Average Soil
Loss.
(tonnes/ha/year)
25 50 75 100
% Ground Cover
Maintain 70% ground
cover at all times.
SOIL EROSION
Rill erosion is likely after severe over-grazing.
Maintain 70% minimum cover at all times.
DO NOT OVER GRAZE
GRAZING
STRATEGIES
GRAZING PRINCIPLES
Appropriate grazing:
- calculate a suitable stocking rate for the property if extensively
grazing horses.
- rotationally graze from paddock to paddock (or restrict grazing
using day yards).
- strip graze or cell graze (consider electric tape).
- graze pastures when 12cms high.
- rest when 5cms in height.
- Slash pastures in spring where annual grasses and other weeds
are dominant (or graze with sheep).
ROTATIONAL GRAZING MEANS PADDOCKS
ARE RESTED
COVER SHOULD NOT FALL BELOW 70% & 4 to 5 CMS IN
HEIGHT AT ANY TIME.
At 12cms
GRAZE
At 4 to 5 cms
REST
12cms
70% cover will minimise the risk of erosion and soil loss in summer
GROUND COVER
USE DAY YARDS TO REST PASTURES
Controlled grazing will help to maintain good ground cover.
Temporary day yards can be constructed to assist this approach.
SOIL TESTING
AND
FERTILISERS
Randomly sample the paddock and collect 400g of
soil for laboratory analysis
SOIL SAMPLING
Pasture in 750mm rainfall area, average stocking rate 10 DSE/ha, not
used for hay, unknown fertiliser/lime history. Sandy loam soil, no
major constraints to root depth.
Note: Phosphorus buffering index is used to more accurately determine phosphorus
requirements. PBI for this sample is 110 with a critical Colwell P value of 34mg/kg .
Result Interpretation Target level pastures
Recommendation
pHwater 5.6 Acidic
pHCaCl2 4.7 Acidic 5.2 – 5.5 Apply lime
Ext P 20 mg/kg Low 25 – 45 Apply P
Ext K 150 mg/kg Adequate 120 – 250
Ext S 9 mg/kg Marginal >10 Apply S
Ext Cu 0.4 mg/kg Low 1 – 2 Apply Cu
Ext Zn 1.5 mg/kg Adequate 1.2 – 2
Ext Mn 15 mg/kg adequate 10 - 50
SOIL TEST – EXAMPLE
TYPES OF FERTILISERS
Conventional - mostly water soluble, readily available to
plants
Base fertilisers N:P:K:S
e.g. single superphosphate 0:8.8:0:11
triple super 0:20:0:0
DAP 8:20:0:1.6
urea 46:0:0:0
sulphate of ammonia 21:0:0:23
muriate of potash 0:0:50:0
N=nitrogen, P=phosphorus, K=potassium, S=sulphur
Single
Superphosphate
TYPES OF FERTILISERS
Organic
Examples:
Blood and bone 5:5:0:0
Fertico organic 3:4:2:3
Neutrog Rapid Raiser 4:3:1.5:2
Manures vary
TYPES OF FERTILISERS
N
P
K
S
Ca
Mg
Cu
Zn
Mn
%
%
%
%
%
%
ppm
ppm
ppm
SHEEP
1.70
0.80
0.63
0.24
2.74
0.58
25
286
144
COW
2.49
0.47
1.34
0.28
2.99
1.38
18
73
377
PIG
3.50
3.00
1.04
0.28
4.79
0.79
92
72
320
FOWL
6.10
2.24
1.40
0.45
8.30
0.77
42
371
367
Composition of manures (variable)
ESTABLISHING NEW
PASTURES
ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES
A two year program
Assess the quality of pasture before deciding.
Year 1
• Soil test in Summer / control weeds / lime the following autumn if
needed.
Year 2
• Graze down pasture to 3cms in autumn.
• Spray glyphosate and re-seed after opening rains.
• Light grazing only.
• Do not cut hay off a permanent pasture in the first year.
N.B. Consider planting a cereal cleaning crop in the year before sowing a
permanent mix
Use a non selective herbicide after the opening rains in autumn to
kill the old pasture. For example glyphosate.
ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES
Prepare a clean seed bed before sowing a new pasture
ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES
DIRECT SEED NEW PASTURES
Minimum disturbance
AFTER SOWING
Shut the paddock up and do not graze
horses until pasture has established.
Graze sheep once or twice.
Allow perennial grasses to flower and
set seed before grazing horses
(or slashing).
Do not cut hay from a first year
permanent pasture.
NEW PASTURES CAN BE HAND SEEDED
With small paddocks it is possible
to hand seed.
Clean paddock of high grass and
thatch.
Spray out weeds in autumn.
Lightly harrow to disturb
Surface few mm of soil. Use a chain or old gate etc.
Hand spread seed and fertiliser.
Drag chain or weldmesh sheet behind a four wheel drive.
WHAT TO SOW
Example: Non Irrigated Perennial Pasture (600+mm p.a.)
On heavier soils such as loams or clay loams, a mixture of
perennial grass and subterranean clover is traditionally used.
The following pasture is suitable for high rainfall areas of the
Clare region.
Perennial ryegrass @ 12kg/ha (Ausvic, Drylander)
Cocksfoot @ 10kg/ha (Ambassador or Porto).
Subterranean clover @ 8kg/ha (Goulburn, Trikkala, Clare 2,
Seaton Park).
PERENNIAL PASTURE - HIGH RAINFALL
Example 1 (Acid soil)
Oats (Outback) 40kg/ha.
Tetrone annual ryegrass 10kg/ha.
Clover (Balansa) 6kg/ha.
Example 2 (self regenerating ryegrass)
Safeguard Annual ryegrass 15kg/ha.
Medics (Alkaline soil) 8kg/ha.
Lucerne 2kg/ha.
Download Management Guide for Safeguard ryegrass
http://valleyseeds.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/08/Safeguard-mgmt-guide.pdf
ANNUAL PASTURES
(LOW RAINFALL 350 - 450MM)
‘Safeguard’ annual ryegrass is recommended as a self
regenerating vigorous variety which is resistant to annual
ryegrass toxicity (ARGT).
Safeguard ryegrass will crossbreed with the local ryegrass
species such as Wimmera, to produce ARGT resistant seeds
which germinate the following year.
This has been developed for the drier regions of South Australia
and has excellent winter pasture production and is resistant to
the root disease Take-all.
SAFEGUARD ANNUAL RYEGRASS
(LOW RAINFALL 350 - 450MM)
On small horse properties kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum)
is a suitable pasture provided it is managed well. Some irrigation
over Summer is beneficial. Late Spring, Summer and early Autumn
are the main growing season. It will tolerate a range of soil types
(both alkaline and acid), and can be established by runners. Best
established by seed sown in Spring. A suitable sowing rate is 2kg/ha.
If a legume is required use Balansa clover or Strawberry clover.
KIKUYU FOR SMALL PROPERTIES
