Native pasture restoration in the Kimberley rangelands, Western Australia – seed production areas

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-2025

Conference Title

XII International Rangeland Congress 2025: Working Together for our Global Rangelands Future

Place of Publication

Adelaide

ISBN

978-0-646-72121-7

Keywords

seed, grass, revegetation

Disciplines

Agricultural Education | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources and Conservation | Soil Science

Abstract

The pastoral industry in the Kimberley region is an important economic contributor to Western Australia. However, as a result of past land management practices, there has been a decline of the more desirable native pasture grasses resulting in a loss of feed-base productivity. To reverse this decline, research is being conducted to help restore important native pasture grasses in this region.

In the Kimberley region, access to native grass seed for restoration is limited as wild-harvest is opportunistic, typically un-mechanised and ripe seed collection sites can be difficult to access during the wet season. Establishing a Seed Production Area (SPA) close to existing all weather roads will allow access to seed at the optimum harvesting time, and planting of single species on flat terrain will allow rapid and efficient collection of seed especially if using mechanical harvesters. Also, the use of fertiliser and irrigation could improve seed quality and increase seed production. This should improve the availability and reduce the cost of native grass seed for use in restoration of native grasses to degraded rangelands and mine-sites.

Six native grass species have been planted out on a small scale to trial a SPA located in Perth, Western Australia. Plants were fertilised and irrigated during summer. Plant growth and phenology were monitored and seed quality compared to wild-harvested seed. Irrigation extended the flowering period and hence seed production. Seed fill (a measure of seed viability) from the SPA was equal to or significantly greater than for wild-harvested seed. There was a trend towards increased seed yield and seed fill in the SPA when grasses were cut before summer re-growth, and with increased irrigation.

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