Columbus grass (Sorghum x almum)

Columbus grass is a natural cross between the weedy Johnson grass and the grain sorghum. It was intentionally sown as a forage crop in tropical Queensland, but has escaped cultivation, it is now a weed of crops, pastures and roadsides.

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How does this weed affect you?

Columbus grass is the result of a natural cross between the weedy Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) and grain sorghum (S. bicolor). It was intentionally sown as a forage crop in tropical Queensland. Escaping cultivation, it is now a weed of crops, pastures and roadsides.

Columbus grass quickly becomes established on disturbed soils. It is a problematic weed, particularly in sorghum crops as a grain contaminant. It can easily cross breed with grain varieties and has the potential to harbour insect pests and disease of sorghum, corn and sugarcane. It is capable of invading native vegetation and areas of high conservation value.

Like other sorghum species, after periods of low rainfall or drought, the young dark coloured regrowth can produce high concentrations of cyanide compounds and nitrates that are toxic to stock. Tall dense infestations can also cause safety issues when present along roadsides by obscuring driver vision.

Cultivars of Columbus grass are still sown for forage, particularly in central and northern Queensland. The seeds of Columbus grass and Johnson grass are very similar, so extreme care must be taken regarding the purity of seed for crops.

Where is it found?

Native to the South American countries of Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. It was introduced as a forage crop to the USA, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, India and New Zealand.  

Imported into Australia by CSIRO in the 1940s. It was widely sown in central and southern Queensland for forage, silage and hay. It is now a common weed throughout central and southern Queensland and northern NSW. It occurs as localised infestations in the western districts of NSW but is more prevalent in the grain growing north western slopes and plains regions. Infestations also exist in the Grafton area of the north coast.

Small isolated populations have been identified in locations throughout the Northern Territory, the Kimberly region of Western Australia and South Australia.

How does it spread?

Columbus grass can spread by seed and rhizomes (runners). Seed is mostly spread through contaminated seed, hay and silage. It can also spread by sticking to the coat of animals, clothing, vehicle tyres and machinery. The small seeds can float and be dispersed large distances by flood waters. Viable seed may pass through the gut of animals intact and spread through their droppings.

New plants can generate from broken rhizomes, spreading the plant locally. Or they can be transported by cultivation and earth moving equipment.

Seeds germinate during the spring and summer months provided there is sufficient moisture. Seedlings undergo a period of rapid growth for the first six weeks, producing high forage yields suitable for grazing.

Flowerheads emerge from December through to April. Seeds ripen from January onwards, with most seed retained in the flower head. The small amount of seed that falls from the head can germinate immediately.

Growth slows considerably from autumn to winter. New growth begins in the spring from stem buds and rhizomes.

What does it look like?

An erect and robust medium-lived (3-5 years) perennial grass.

Stems

• solid, about 1 cm thick and contain a pithy substance
• usually grows 1–2.5 m high, but can reach heights of 3.5 m
• many stems (tillers) arise from underground runners
• runners are curved upwards, with many nodes (joints)

Leaves

• dark green
• up to 50 cm long and 2 cm wide
• taper to a point at the end
• edges and central vein are often whitish in colour  

Seed head

• an open branched pyramid shaped head
• up to 25 cm long
• pale green when young
• reddish-brown when ripe
• many seed spikelets occur in pairs along the small branches and in triplets at the branch end
• contains fertile and sterile seeds
• fertile clusters are 5-7 mm long with or without awns
• sterile clusters are narrower and 6-8 mm long

Seeds

• reddish brown to black
• oval
• 3.5–4 mm long
• have no dormancy period

What type of environment does it grow in?

Columbus grass prefers subtropical to semi-arid conditions with an annual rainfall of 500–800 mm. In areas of high rainfall it lives longer and is harder to eradicate. It grows best in full sunlight on fertile soils ranging from loams to heavy clays. It tolerates drought and mild salinity, but not flooding.

Acknowledgements

Written by Rachele Osmond.

References

Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (2009) Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH). Available at www.chah.gov.au/avh/index

Cook BG, Pengelly BC, Brown SD, Donnelly JL, Eagles DA, Franco MA, Hanson J, Mullen BF, Partridge IJ, Peters M and Schultze-Kraft R (2005) Tropical forages, CSIRO, DPI&F (Qld) CIAT and ILRI, Brisbane, Australia. Available at www.tropicalforages.info

Department of the Environment (2011) Weeds in Australia: Sorghum x almum, Australian Government. Available at www.environment.gov.au

Parsons WT and Cuthbertson EC (2001) Noxious weeds in Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

More information

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Control

Small infestations can be removed by manually digging up individual plants or spot-spraying prior to seeding.

Integrated weed management

Large and dense infestations may require a combination of cultivation, herbicides and competing crops.

Summer cultivation before seed heads form will give some control, followed by herbicide on regrowth. Mechanical control on its own is not a long term viable option. Stems will regenerate from the rhizomes left in the ground.

Burning or slashing may help to remove bulk of the plants. Then use herbicide on regrowth in mid to late summer.

In pasture situations, spot spraying and maintaining a strong and competitive pasture will help to prevent an infestation.

Herbicide control

Herbicide treatment of Columbus grass is best conducted when plants are actively growing. This is usually November to March. All herbicide treatments should be monitored for regrowth and treated as required.

Seedlings and young plants are very susceptible to herbicide treatment when applied before flowering.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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Flupropanate 745 g/L (Tussock®)
Rate: 1.0 L per 100 L of water
Comments: Apply when actively growing.
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

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Glyphosate 450 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 10 mL per 1 L of water
Comments: Apply at early flowering 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

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Biosecurity duty

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.

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Reviewed 2014