A survey of native grasses in the Goulburn district and factors influencing their abundance [New South Wales]

Munnich, D.J.; Nicol, H.I. . Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre; Simpson, P.C.

A survey of native grasses in the Goulburn district and factors influencing their abundance [New South Wales]

1991

Munnich, D.J. | Nicol, H.I. (New South Wales Agriculture, Orange (Australia). Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre) | Simpson, P.C. (New South Wales Agriculture, Goulburn (Australia))

Of 34 farms surveyed over winter, 17 were found to have a significant proportion of potentially useful native grasses, and these were resurveyed in the subsequent summer to identify specific Danthonia spp. Factors such as cultivation and the presence of naturalized or sown species influenced species abundance, but species differences were apparent. Cultivation reduced the abundance of Danthonia species but did not affect the abundance of Microlaena stipoides, which was thus more prevalent than Danthonia spp. in improved pastures. The frequency of Danthonia spp. was negatively associated with high percentage frequencies of annual grasses, declining by approximately 2.5 percent for each 10 percent increase in annual grasses over winter. The abundance of M. stipoides was affected by pH, with percentage frequency increasing as pH declined. Species' percentages recorded changed with season.

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