Herbicide treatment for

the control or
suppression of common
pasture weeds in new
and established sub
clover – perennial grass
pastures.

Information session No. 1.

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About these notes

These notes have been prepared by Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services for the Woady
Yaloak Catchment Group, with assistance from Gerard O’Brien, Landmark Skipton.

They are one in a series of five being prepared as part of the skill development component of
the pasture improvement program being conducted in the catchment between 2004 and 2006.

These notes refer to the possible herbicide techniques available to manipulate common plant
species in a sub clover based pasture. They do not refer to herbicides that could be used in
preparation to pasture sowing or in a cropping phase.

This is not an exhaustive list of herbicides, treatments or target species. The weeds listed and
the herbicides identified are deemed the most common encountered or used in the Woady
Yaloak Catchment. The herbicides identified may well control weeds other than those listed
in these notes.

Disclaimer

The advice provided in these notes is intended as a source of information only. Always read
the label before using any of the products mentioned. The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group,
its employees or contractors do not guarantee that these notes are without flaw of any kind or
is wholly appropriate for your purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss
or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this
publication.

The registration and direction for use of chemicals may change over time. Before using a
chemical or following any of the chemical suggestions listed in this document, always check
that the uses described on the product label are still registered. Users should note that the
currently registered label should always be followed. Current labels can be checked at
www.apvma.gov.au/pubcris.

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 Contents
Herbicide techniques for manipulating some common pasture weeds of South West Victoria.

1. Spraygrazing

2. Winter cleaning

3. Spraytopping
For annual grasses
For perennial grasses

4. Selective herbicides

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 Table 1: Herbicide techniques for manipulating some common pasture weeds of South West Victoria
Indicative timing only - read label for critical comments regarding stage of growth

Common weed Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Barley grass Selective Spraytop
Bent grass Spraytop
Brome grass Selective
Capeweed Spraygraze Spraytop
Selective
Chickweed Selective
Fog grass Spraytop
Onion grass Selective
Silver grass (vulpia spp) Winter cleaning W clean Spraytop
Sorrel Selective
Storksbill (Erodium botrys) Spraygraze
Selective
Thistle (Spear) Spraygraze
Selective
Thistle (variegated) Spraygraze
Selective
Tree hogweed Selective
Wild radish Selective
Winter grass (poa annua) Selective
Wireweed Selective

Not to be re-printed without permission

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 Spraygrazing
What it involves
Spraygrazing uses a sub lethal dose of a hormone based herbicide 6 to 8 weeks after
germination followed by high density grazing. 2,4-D amine or MCPA are the common
herbicides to use.

Target species.
Spraygrazing is a useful technique on broadleaf plants such as:
Capeweed,
Thistles
Erodium (corkscrew) to a lesser extent.

The effect of the treatment

The effect of the herbicide is to:
mobilise the sugars in some broadleaf plants, thus reducing their reserves from which they
rely on to grow new leaves after heavy grazing.
alter the growth rate of the cells in the plant so they grow more upright.

This makes the plants more palatable to the stock and easier for the stock to graze the leaves.

Weakness in the target species that we try to exploit.

Spraygrazing is effective on annual broadleaf plants that produce seeds that have short seed
life (viability). In other words it works on broadleaf plants that are strongly reliant on
successful seed set each year for ongoing survival.

Breaking the ability of the plant to set seed dramatically reduces the seed carry over the next
year. As a result there is less seed available to germinate at the break and therefore less weeds
the next year.

Spraygrazing interrupts the seed set process by killing or severely retarding the plants before
they begin to flower.

Critical aspects to consider

In sub clover based pastures use MCPA based herbicides.
In white clover based pastures use 2,4-D amine based herbicides.
In mixed sub clover /white clover based pastures use 2,4-D amine based herbicides.
Clovers need to have a minimum number of ‘true leaves’ before spraying. This guidance
will be on the label of the herbicide.
Treatment is typically 6 to 8 weeks after emergence although this will vary depending on
the timing of the break and other environmental conditions.
It is the combination of the herbicide and the grazing that greatly influences the
effectiveness of the treatment.
Stock need commence grazing 7 to 10 days after treatment at high stocking densities (at
least five times the normal stocking rate, so all weeds are removed 2 to 3 weeks after the
commencement of grazing).
Stock are likely to eat increased quantities of these treated plants which may cause nitrate
poisoning and/or liver damage, especially if the paddock is dominated by these weeds.
Feeding hay whilst grazing the treated area can help reduce potential poisoning problems.

The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and
responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.
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 Winter cleaning
What it involves
Winter cleaning uses a herbicide that selectively removes some annual grasses from a clover
based pasture. Simazine is the common herbicide use, often in combination with paraquat as
the plants become well established.

Target species.
Winter cleaning is a useful technique on annual grasses such as:
Silver grass (vulpia)

The effect of the treatment

The effect of the herbicide is to:
Kill the silver grass plants before they set seed.
Creates bare patches in the pasture providing an opportunity for more desirable plants
such as sub clover can invade.

Weakness in the target species that we try to exploit.

Winter cleaning is effective on silver grass because it removes the plant from the pasture
before it has time to set seed. As silver grass has a very short seed life (viability), disrupting
the seed set even for one year can dramatically reduces the seed carry over the next year. As
a result there is less seed available to germinate at the break and therefore less weeds the next
year.

Critical aspects to consider

The long term effect of winter cleaning relies heavily on the ability of more desirable
species to ‘fill the gaps’ left by the removal of the silver grass. If this does not occur other
weeds or the few remaining silver grass seeds will re-establish next autumn.
Although it is called winter cleaning, it is recommended to avoid treating pasture in the
slowest growth period of winter because the invasion of the more desirable species will
also be slower at this time.
Young silver grass seedlings often contribute a significant quantity to the autumn / winter
pasture production in a paddock. Be prepared to lose this feed after treatment.
Clovers need to have a minimum number of ‘true leaves’ before spraying. This guidance
will be on the label of the herbicide.
Avoid trying to spraygrazing and winter cleaning at the same time. Ensure at least three
weeks between the two separate treatments.

The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and
responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.

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 Spraytopping - annual plants
What it involves
Spraytopping uses a sub lethal dose of herbicide to either sterilise seed that is being formed.
Glyphosate and Paraquat based herbicides are commonly used. Glyphosate is commonly
known as RoundUp and Paraquat as Gramoxone.

Target species.
Spraytopping is a useful technique on annual plants such as:
Capeweed,
Barley grass.
Silver grass.
Brome grass.

The effect of the treatment – preventing seeding

The two herbicides work in different ways.

Glyphosate based herbicides are absorbed by the plant and move through the ‘sap system’
(translocated). With annual plants the herbicide is absorbed as the seed is forming, thus
rendering the seed sterile. Even though the seed heads may form, the majority of the seed will
not germinate next year.

Paraquat is a contact herbicide which means it has to make physical contact with the seed to
be effective. Therefore it is used later in the year when all the seeds have emerged and the
plants have started to ‘hay off’.

A secondary effect of both these herbicides is to ‘freeze’ further vegetative growth. This
freezing also stops the plant maturing which in turn means the plant retains its quality (energy
and protein levels) even through it will appear brown. This effect is often called hay freezing
or pasture topping. The quality is ‘frozen’ for about 4 to 6 weeks. After this time quality
declines at a rate similar to non sprayed pasture.

Weakness in the target species that we try to exploit – preventing seeding.

Spraytopping is more effective on annual plants that produce seeds that have short seed life
(viability) and the seed heads emerge all at the same time. Other annual and perennial plants
that are sprayed as a consequence of this treatment may also be affected, however if the seed
viability is long and/or the seeds have already fully formed, the technique will be less
effective in achieving long term control.

Breaking the ability of the plant to set seed dramatically reduces the seed carry over the next
year. As a result there is less seed available to germinate at the break and therefore less weeds
the next year.

Spraytopping damages the viability of the seed that is setting, unlike winter cleaning and
spraygrazing which aims to prevent the target weeds from reaching the spring flowering
period.

Critical aspects to consider.

Spraytopping requires even seed head emergence. Close grazing is required until the
spring flush is occurring. Then remove stock and allow the seed heads to emerge.

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 Glyphosate is the preferred herbicide as the seed heads begin to emerge. Once fully
emerged use Paraquat.
Spraying will reduce overall spring growth compared to non sprayed areas.
Feed quality will be frozen for a 4 to 6 week period after spraying. To maximise animal
performance graze unsprayed paddocks first.
Spraytopping, especially with glyphosate may reduce sub clover seed set.
There is no advantage in spraying early as the loss in pasture growth and the ability of
some plants to grow late seed heads reduces the effect of the treatment.

The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and
responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.

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 Spraytopping - perennial plants
What it involves
Spraytopping for perennial species uses a sub lethal dose of herbicide to prevent plants from
‘running up to head’.

Glyphosate is the common herbicide used.

Target species.
Spraytopping is useful in suppressing the seed formation for:
Bent grass
Fog grass

The effect of the treatment – perennial grass suppression

The application of glyphosate to perennial plants stops the plants from ‘running to head’. As
seeds form on perennial plants they become ‘stemy’ and the quality declines rapidly. In turn
this makes them less attractive to the grazing animal, which results in dry material not being
eaten over the summer period.

Spraytopping stops the plant maturing which in turn means the plant retains its quality
(energy and protein levels) even through it will appear brown. The quality is ‘frozen’ for
about 4 to 6 weeks. Vegetative growth will resume in perennial plants after about 6 weeks
given adequate moisture.

Weakness in the target species that we try to exploit – perennial grass suppression.
Bent grass and fog grass is weakened if they are constantly and heavily grazed. Animals
generally avoid bent grass and fog grass as they mature because the feed quality declines
more rapidly than other plants in the pasture. This greatly assists the survival and dominance
of bent grass and fog grass.

Spraytopping prevents reproductive growth which enhances quality and entices animals to
graze these plans more readily that they would otherwise. By breaking the reproductive
cycle, the plant does not build up excessive dry material. Stock will graze the remaining plant
significantly weakening its subsequent growth.

Critical aspects to consider – perennial grass suppression.

Spraytopping must be done before seed head emergence to be effective
Heavy grazing after spraying is required.
Spraytopping, especially with glyphosate may reduce sub clover seed set.

The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and
responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.

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 Selective herbicides
What it involves
A range of herbicides exist to either kill or suppress various undesirable plants in a pasture as
part of a program to establish more competitive and desirable species. They usually involve
spraying early in the lifecycle of the weed ie soon after germination at the prescribed rate.

Target species.
Common weeds found in pastures in Western Victoria considered in this section are:
Barley grass
Brome grass
Capeweed
Onion grass (see note).
Silver grass (Vulpia spp)
Sorrel
Storksbill (Erodium)
Thistles (spear and variegated)
Wireweed (hogweed)

The effect of the treatment

The various herbicides have different modes of action. The suitability of various selective
herbicides to control or suppress the listed weeds is attached (table 2). They have been
chosen because of their potential application in sub clover based pasture and newly
established pastures.

Weakness in the target species that we try to exploit.

The selective herbicides listed should aim to remove the weed for a sufficient period of time
to allow the more desirable species to grow into their place and compete. To enhance the
long term effect of the herbicide may also require changes to soil fertility, species and grazing
method (eg grazing and spelling).

Critical aspects to consider

Selective herbicides are usually a more expensive control method that spraytopping,
winter cleaning or spraygrazing. Consider these other techniques before using selective
herbicides.
Some selective herbicide may suppress or damage other desirable plants. This guidance
will be on the label of the herbicide.
Early spraying usually requires less chemical application and therefore is more cost
effective.
Selective herbicides should be used strategically and full benefit is only achieved if
subsequent pasture competition can be achieved.

The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and
responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.

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 TABLE 2: Selective herbicides for some common pasture weeds and effect on perennial grasses
XX = control if applied at the appropriate rate and conditions as specified on the label
X = suppression if applied at the appropriate rate and conditions as specified on the label

Common product name

K A B C
Common weed Agility Agtryne Ma Brushoff Buttress CorrectD GiantE JaguarF RaptorG SimazineH TigrexI VerdictJ
Barley grass XX XX XX
Bent grass
Brome grass XX XX XX
Capeweed X XX XX XX XX X+Sim X+Raptor XX
Chickweed X X/XX
Onion grass XX X/XX1
Silver grass (vulpia spp) X XX XX+Sim
Sorrel X XX X XX
Storksbill (Erodium botrys) X/XX X X XX X XX
Thistle (variegated) XX X XX X
Thistles (spear) XX
Tree hogweed (polygonum X XX X
patulum)
Wild radish XX X XX
Winter grass (poa annua) XX+Sim XX
Wireweed (polygonum XX X XX XX X
aviculare)
Perennial ryegrass SUP OK SUP OK SUP / OK OK SUP / OK OK SUP
KILL KILL
Phalaris SUP OK SUP OK OK OK OK KILL OK OK SUP
Cocksfoot SUP OK SUP OK KILL OK OK ?? OK OK KILL
Tall Fescue SUP OK SUP OK ?? OK OK ?? OK OK KILL

Not to be re-printed without permission

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Not on label
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Critical comments
A = Excellent on big capeweed, variable results on erodium as it needs grazing pressure as well. High temperatures at application can be an
issue. Cost about $12/ha - $16/ha.
B = Control of onion grass in pastures using metsulfuron methyl (Brushoff) will kill clover in that year and is not suitable for newly established
perennial pastures (all species). Established perennial grasses are likely to get a check. It is valuable in removing onion grass followed by
sowing of sub clover next year. Residual breakdown is highly dependent on soil pH. Avoid applying lime until after herbicide breakdown.
C = Cost $35/ha to $65/ha.
D = Chemical is leaf absorbed, so try and reduce leaf area of non target species. OLD Vic rye seems to hang on but the newer varieties seem
more susceptible. Cost about $10/ha.
E = Can apply to sub clover at the 1 trifoliate leaf stage. Capeweed needs to be small – up to the size of a 20c piece.
F = Cost $11/ha to $22/ha.
G = Use additive (Boost / liaise – crop oil or Liaise – ammonium sulphate). Possibly suspect on newer perennial ryegrasses. Will kill phalaris.
Will only kill small capeweed. Approx $40/ha.
H = Cost $7.50/ha to $9/ha.
I = Can apply to sub clover at the 1 trifoliate leaf stage. Capeweed needs to be small – up to the size of a 20c piece.
J = Excellent on barley grass, brome grass and very good on erodium. Cost $18/ha.
K = Limited uses in grass pastures – better options are available.

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