Scientific name(s)

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, inclu 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

Further information

www.westmidlandsnrg.org.au/Perennials/Farmnotes/Note11-1998WellAdaptedPerennialGrassesEsperanceSandplain
www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/Vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/invasive_perennial_veldt_grass

Acknowledgements

CSIRO, Departments of Primary Industry

Author and date

KFM Reed, July 8th 2008