Perennial veldt grass

Perennial Veldt grass plant

Scientific name

Ehrharta calycina

Strengths

Drought tolerant. Tolerant of low temperatures, strongly acid soil and low soil fertility.

Limitations

Poor winter growth; highly sensitive to water-logging.

Plant description

Plant:

Quite variable, perennial tussock grass; grows in clumps to 1.8 m tall. Its 2-phase fibrous root system facilitates perenniality in “annual” environment.

Leaves:

Hairless, filiform, to 7 mm wide, flat/rolled. Has white transparent ligule. Auricle is purple at maturity.

Seedhead:

Drooping open panicle; hairy spikelets, 4-8mm long. Reddish-purple flowers, 7-22cm long.

Seeds:

Variable, ~220,000/kg, often considerable inert matter and low germination.

Pasture type and use

A hardy pasture plant for light soil/low rainfall. Moderately resistant to fire. Also used to prevent soil erosion.

Where it grows

Rainfall

> 300 mm.

Soils

Light textured; very suited to sandy soil. Tolerant of strong acid, high exchangeable aluminium and alkalinity.

Temperature

Tolerant of a wide temperature range, including extreme cold.Seed germinates at 13-28°C.

Establishment

Companion species

Grasses: cocksfoot – if sown at < 1kg/ha.

Legumes: serradella, sub clover, annual medics and lucerne.

Sowing/planting rates as single species

1-2 kg/ha; will recruit seedlings and thicken up on sandy soil. Sow 3 kg in higher rainfall. Purchase certified seed. Request recent germination test on seed as the quality of stored seed falls rapidly and seed is usually uneven re maturity.

Sowing/planting rates in mixtures

0.5 kg/ha.

Sowing time

Autumn. Late winter/spring OK in summer rainfall areas.

Inoculation

Not applicable.

Fertiliser

Superphosphate or MNP; correct nutrient deficiencies; sensitive to low N which can be common on deep acid sands. Nitrogen build-up with serradella or lupins in the previous year(s) greatly improves establishment on such soil soil.

Management

Maintenance fertliser

Tolerates low fertility.

Grazing/cutting

Allow to head before grazing in establishment period. Rotational spelling is required to replenish root reserves. Avoid heavy summer grazing. Occasionally allow to head and seed if thinning.

Seed production

Prolific seeder ( ~3,500 seed/plant) but seed ripens unevenly and falls quickly. Commonly yields 100-200 kg/ha (500 with irrigation). Max. yield and seed quality may be obtained by windrowing ~7 weeks post-commencement of flowering. cv Mission has been improved for low shattering/high seed yield.Seed can be scarce, expensive and very variable in quality. Trough harvesting begets quality seed.

Ability to spread

Moderate; seed dispersed by wind over short distances.

Weed potential

A weed in some parts of Australia and California. Readily establishes on disturbed acidic sandy soil.

Major pests

None known.

Major diseases

None known.

Herbicide susceptibility

Very little known; no chemicals registered for use. 2,4-D and 2, 4-DB are considered reasonably safe.

Animal production

Feeding value

Good.

Palatability

Extremely palatable; can be grazed out if grazing not managed.

Production potential

Good production depends on good companion legume. Most productive in autumn and spring; responds to summer rain.

Livestock disorders/toxicity

Considered non-toxic.

Cultivars

Cultivar	Seed source/Information
Mission	Australian Herbage Plant Cultivarswww.irwinhunter.com.

Author and date

KFM Reed

July 8th 2008