Time of seed harvest and sowing determines successful establishment of kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

Male, Dylan; Hunt, James; Celestina, Corinne; Gupta, Dorin; Clark, Gary; Carter, Rodney; Duggan, Dan

Context: Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra Forssk.) is a native perennial C4 species significant to Dja Dja Wurrung people who seek to restore its presence across Country (Djandak) through broadacre seed crop production. To achieve this, agronomic challenges to establishment must be overcome. Aims: To understand the effects of harvest time on seed viability and sowing time on crop establishment. Methods: In Experiment 1, seed viability was assessed in a remnant Djandak stand in three seasons and seed colour assessed and cumulative seed shed measured in two of these seasons. In Experiment 2, seed from two Djandak ecotypes was sown at two sites at eight sowing dates over two seasons and plant emergence, culm number and canopy cover were recorded. Key results: In Experiment 1, seed was shed from mid-December to late-January and seed viability varied intra- and inter-seasonally. Viability of early shed seed was low (0–24%) but increased with time to a peak of 68–69% in the first two seasons and 28–37% in the final season. Most seed had shed when peak viability was reached. Dark-coloured seeds with a caryopsis exhibited both high viability and high dormancy. In Experiment 2, sowing in September–October resulted in the optimal combination of highest mean establishment, lowest variability and no establishment failures. Conclusions: To maximise crop establishment, seed should be sown in September–October on Djandak and be harvested when 30–50% of seed has shed. Implications: These guidelines inform T. triandra establishment supportive of its development as a broadacre seed crop. Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra Forsk.) is a native perennial grass under development as a seed crop on Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Djandak). Agronomic challenges to its establishment must be overcome and this study found that time of seed harvest and sowing determines establishment success. Findings are now being used to guide the establishment of T. triandra as a seed crop on Djandak.

SEED harvesting; CROPS; SEED crops; HARVESTING time; CROP management

Crop & Pasture Science, 2025, Vol 76, Issue 3, p1

1836-0947

Academic Journal

10.1071/CP24226