Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Volume 10 Number 11 November, 1969 Article 6

1-1-1969

Paspalum vaginatum : for salty seepages and

C V. Malcolm

I. A. F. Laing

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Recommended Citation Malcolm, C V. and Laing, I. A. F. (1969) " vaginatum : for salty seepages and lawns," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 10 : No. 11 , Article 6. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol10/iss11/6

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PASPALUM VAGINATUM-FOR SALTY SEEPAGES AND LAWNS

By C. V. MALCOLM and I. A. F. LAING, Research Officers, Soils Division

PASPALUM VAGINATUM, aptly termed "sea shore paspalum" has an amazing ability to thrive in wet salty situations. It is also a good grass. Seed of the grass is not available but it may easily be established by planting pieces.

This article reviews where and how the number of different areas to find out by grass may be used. experiment where it is of most use. The drier the situation the more care Where to use it is required in planting. In very wet boggy Bogs, gullies, and seepage areas which patches runners thrown on the surface will stay wet even with salty water during the grow, but it is advisable to tuck them into summer are ideal situations for growing the soil. In areas which are less wet it is Paspalum vaginatum. It will form a dense best to cut and plant small sods of turf mat of roots which stops erosion and about two or three inches square. These reduces bogging, and will turn the areas should be planted with the top of the sod into green "lawns." When established, it level with the ground surface. is very resistant to grazing and provides In gullies, creeks, and bogs it is con­ valuable green feed during the hotter venient to carry the ready cut or teased months. Paspalum vaginatum pieces in a bucket or wheelbarrow and use a mattock or hoe to open the soil at regular intervals for plant­ When to plant it ing. Treading each piece down consoli­ Since Paspalum vaginatum is a summer dates the job. grower it is best planted when its growth On larger, drier areas where it is pos­ commences in the spring, around August- sible to use implements, sods of the grass September, to give it a chance to become may be planted in a furrow made with a established before summer. In very wet plough. A further adjacent run with the seepages however, plantings made in mid­ plough may be made to partially cover the summer will be successful. Under the sods, and running the tractor wheels over most favourable conditions one small piece the planting makes it firm. of root may spread to cover an area five feet in diameter by the end of autumn. How to treat it Until bare areas have been covered with How to plant it grass it will benefit from grazing protec­ Paspalum vaginatum can be established tion, since sheep crop the grass closely from roots. The amount available for and stop runners colonising surrounding planting determines how it should be used. bare soil. Small amounts are best formed into a Salty soils usually develop a hard sur­ nursery plot by planting the roots in the face crust, which should be broken to most favourable situation. This will assist runners to root down. probably be the wettest part of the seepage Mulching the bare areas with a cover­ area or may be an area where water can ing of hay or straw is also helpful since be supplied. it keeps the soil cool and soft. Subsequent plantings may be made from Once Paspalum vaginatum is established the nursery plot when time permits. If over the whole of the suitable areas it is roots are abundant they may be tried in a virtually impossible to eat it out. 474

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 10 No 11, 1969 J/i \

Couch grass Salt water couch Sea shore paspalum ( dactylon) (Sporobolus virginicus) (Paspalum vaginatum) On non-salty areas, Paspalum vaginatum between 530 and 650 grains per gallon responds to phospate and nitrogen ferti­ total soluble salts (7,600 to 9,300 parts per lisers. As the situation becomes more salty million T.S.S.) during the summer months. the response to fertilisers is less obvious, Six inches of yellow sand was placed on and only in the case of Paspalum vagina­ the heavy gravelly clay soil of the area, tum growing on fairly fresh seepage areas to allow for leaching of salts. This layer will the application of super and urea be of sand has no doubt been partly respon­ warranted. sible for the continued good growth of the lawn. PASPALUM VAGINATUM AS A LAWN Good lawns of Paspalum vaginatum can be grown with fresh water. Water and Many people have the problem of grow­ fertiliser requirements are similar to ing a lawn with salty water or soils. For­ couch. It produces vigorous runners but it tunately couch and buffalo grasses are is not as aggressive in the garden as kikuyu. reasonably salt tolerant and some lawns Growth in shaded areas is akin to couch of these grasses are successfully grown and buffalo in winter but survival is better with water containing 100 to 300 grains and the warm weather restores a con­ per gallon (1,400 to 4,300 parts per million) tinuous turf. total soluble salts. Paspalum vaginatum provides an oppor­ WHERE TO GET IT tunity to have a good lawn with even Many farmers have considerable areas saltier water. Little precise information is of Paspalum vaginatum established and available, but it is possible that good lawns are willing to allow others to dig runners can be grown with water containing up from their properties. Where no such to 1,000 grains per gallon (14,300 ppm) areas are known, agricultural advisers at total soluble salts, where ample water is Department of Agriculture district offices applied and leaching can be ensured to can usually suggest sources of supply. If avoid excess salt accumulation. When this fails, the Soils Division of the Depart­ relatively salt-sensitive are growing ment of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South nearby careful application of water is Perth, should be contacted. necessary to avoid salt injury. The Department's Avondale Research At least one case is known where a Station at Beverley has excellent stands Paspalum vaginatum lawn has been grown of the grass, and farmers may call there successfully using water which varied to collect runners. 475

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 10 No 11, 1969 You don't need a lot of power to harvest clover

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Journal of Agriculture, Vol 10 No 11, 1969