African lovegrass is a hardy, drought-tolerant grass that grows in clumps. It is poor quality feed for livestock and can quickly colonise overgrazed and disturbed sites.
African lovegrass takes over pastures and disturbed areas. It degrades pastures because it’s not very nutritious for livestock. There are seven types of African lovegrass in Australia.
African lovegrass is a perennial grass that grows in clumps up to 1.2 m tall.
African lovegrass has a small, thin structure at the base of the leaf blade. This is a ligule. The ligule has a ring of white hairs.
African lovegrass looks like other perennial pasture tussock grasses. It is difficult to tell native and introduced Eragrostis species from each other. Other desirable tussock grasses such as Poa tussock (Poa labillardieri) also look similar.
Consol lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula cv. Consol) is a non-weed cultivar of African lovegrass. It is grown in pastures on sandy soils. The differences between this cultivar and the weed African lovegrass are subtle. It is difficult to tell them apart.
African lovegrass grows throughout NSW, on roadsides and in grazing land.
African lovegrass is native to southern Africa. It was introduced in Argentina and the United States it a forage plant. It was accidentally introduced into Australia before 1900. It has since been deliberately introduced for experiments.
African lovegrass thrives on acidic, sandy soils with low fertility. It is heat and drought tolerant. Frost can damage it, but it regrows in warmer weather
Each seedhead can produce 300 to 1000 seeds. Seeds have high viability in the first year and after 5 years, more than half of the seeds are still viable. Some seed can remain viable for up to 17 years.
Seed spreads:
Campbell, M (2002). Effects of age on the germination of African lovegrass seed, Grasslands Society Newsletter, Vol. 17, No. 1.
Crider, F. J. (1945). Three introduced lovegrasses for soil conservation (No. 730). US Department of Agriculture.
Csurhes, S., Leigh, C., & Walton, C. (2016). African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)(Invasive plant risk assessment).
Firn, J. (2009). African lovegrass in Australia: a valuable pasture species or embarrassing invader?. TG: Tropical Grasslands, 43(2), 86.
Parsons WT and Cuthbertson EC (2001). Noxious weeds in Australia 2nd Edn, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.
To manage African lovegrass:
To reduce the chance of African lovegrass seed being introduced to your property:
Other method that will limit the establishment of African love grass include:
Look for new plants and control African lovegrass as soon as it appears. Minimise soil disturbance when clearing. Spot spraying may be better than disturbing a large patch of African lovegrass.
Healthy pastures are the best long-term defence against African lovegrass. It establishes in thin and bare patches. Pastures with less than 70% ground cover are at more risk of invasion.
To maintain pastures:
On arable land establishing a new pasture can be an effective way to control African lovegrass. Consult an agronomist for variety recommendations for your soil type and area. To sow a new pasture into an infested paddock:
Inaccessible spots can be spot sprayed and surface sown in summer and topdressed with seed and fertiliser in autumn. Aerial spraying and re-sowing pastures is risky. African lovegrass usually grows on poor soils. Large amounts of lime and fertiliser are needed to improve the soil.
Support the new pasture by:
When: African lovegrass is young and green.
Follow up: In spring and autumn with other control methods.
Heavy grazing can help break up old unpalatable material. Grazing can stop African lovegrass seeding, but should not be the main control strategy.
When: Winter, with dry cool conditions and low fire danger.
Follow up: With chemical control when regrowth appears.
Burning African lovegrass helps reduce old growth and allows other plants to germinate. Burning can dry out soils. This can reduce pasture growth and African lovegrass will mature faster.
When: Spring to summer, or when flushes of seedlings appear
Herbicides are most effective in combination with healthy, competitive pastures. Spraying as a single control method is only effective where African lovegrass is selectively removed from a strong pasture.
Burn heavy infestations before spraying the regrowth.
Flupropanate gives the best control of African lovegrass. It can take three months to have a noticeable effect and up to 18 months to kill the plant. Avoid spraying in winter. Observe grazing withholding periods.
Glyphosate will also kill African lovegrass. Apply to actively growing plants in spring and summer. Use a glyphosate based herbicide to kill any regrowth.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9792 Expires 30/11/2025
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Tussock®)
Rate: 1.5–3.0 L/ha
Comments: Ground and aerial boom application. Only apply to green actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 30/11/2025
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Tussock®)
Rate: 150–300 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray application. Only apply to green actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Tussock®)
Rate: 300 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Tussock®)
Rate: 3.0 L/ha
Comments: Boom spray application using 150 L water/ha. Apply July to December.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.0 L per 100 L water
Comments: Apply to actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 6.0 L per 100 L water
Comments: Boom application.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
Area | Duty |
---|---|
All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
Hunter |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Pasture improvement may be associated with an increase in the incidence of certain livestock health disorders. Livestock and production losses from some disorders are possible. Management may need to be modified to minimise risk. Consult your veterinarian or adviser when planning pasture improvement. The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Local Land Services Amendment Act 2016 restrict some pasture improvement practices where existing pasture contains native species. Contact Local Land Services for further details.
Reviewed 2023