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Habitat Management News

From British Wildlife 11.1 (October 1999)
Controlling Tor-grass

Tor-grass Brachypodium pinnatum is recognised as a significant problem on chalk and limestone grasslands, where it can form dominant and low-diversity stands. There are a number of options available to manage and control it. The recently published second edition of The Lowland Grassland Management Handbook (Crofts, A, & Jefferson, R G, 1999) lists grazing, mowing with the removal of cuttings, burning and herbicide treatment. The experimental basis for the guidance on herbicide treatment relies heavily on the work of Audra Hurst and Elizabeth John from the University of Sussex. This work has now been published in full (Biol. Conserv. 89: 261-265).

The effectiveness of the non-selective herbicide glyphosate applied by knapsack sprayer in reducing Tor-grass dominance and restoring a species-rich chalk-grassland community was assessed. This took place at two sites in Sussex, with monitoring for up to five years after treatment. There were several findings which will help decision-making on Tor-grass management and control. It was found that many of the species initially colonising the treated areas were ruderal or uncharacteristic of the surrounding chalk grassland. Tor-grass recolonised all the areas which had been treated. Glyphosate was found to inhibit the germination of Tor-grass seed taken from the treated areas. From the results, it was predicted that Tor-grass will regain dominance at the study sites following glyphosate treatment. Recolonisation by Tor-grass and scrub rather than chalk-grassland species will be favoured by the nutrient-rich conditions that exist in the soil below the former Tor-grass stands. It is suggested that glyphosate should be used to control Tor-grass only as part of an integrated control programme which includes post-treatment grazing and techniques to reduce soil fertility.

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