African lovegrass is a species in the Northern Tablelands which is widely distributed. It has low feed value, can quickly colonize disturbed areas and can grow to a large perennial tussock grass of 1.2 m in height. African lovegrass grows on acidic, sandy soils with low fertility and can tolerate heat, drought and frosts. It is a born survivor.
Image - African Lovegrass, courtesy of Bruce Auld.
Locally there are 2 species of African lovegrass; Curvula (Eragrostis curvula curvula) has lime to dark green leaves and Blue chloromelas (Eragrostis curvula chloromelas) has blue-green leaves. Leaves are narrow (3 mm wide) and often curl near the tips and the leaf margins are often folded or rolled inwards. Reproduction is only by seeds which are dispersed by water, animals, in hay and fodder, earthwork machinery and vehicles. Roadside slashing equipment is commonly blamed for spreading seeds. Every effort should be made to prevent African Lovegrass from becoming established on your property.
To reduce chances for African lovegrass to enter your property avoid bringing in hay, grain, or silage from African lovegrass areas, limit animal movement from infested areas into clean paddocks, check the coats of new stock for weed seeds, quarantine new stock for at least 10 days, clean vehicles and machinery before coming onto your property, inspect hay or fodder for weed seeds, broadcast seed for desirable species in disturbed pastures, revegetate unproductive areas, spray the boundaries of infested paddocks with a 20–25 m strip.
The young growth of African lovegrass (before production of seed heads) is generally palatable and nutritious to stock, but is produced at times when feed is generally available from more palatable species. Older growth has low palatability and is avoided by animals, eaten only when other pasture has been consumed. Owing to this, African lovegrass can spread and dominate sparse, over-grazed pastures, forming pure, dense infestations. Healthy pastures are the best long-term defence against African lovegrass. Pastures with less than 70% ground cover are at more risk of invasion. Adjust grazing to always keep 90% of the ground covered by growing a combination of winter and summer pastures, rest pastures between grazing periods and reduce numbers of grazing animals before overgrazing can affect the pasture cover.
Image - a heavy infestaton of African Lovegrass, image courtesy Greg Reid.
For help with weed identification and management please contact the Biosecurity Officers (Weeds) on 67703602, call into their office at 2/129 Rusden St Armidale, follow their facebook site or visit www.newa.com.au.
