Module 4: Expert weed system: A support tool for on-farm management

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Background

Weed invasion was identified as a major reason why landholders resist fencing off riparian areas or undertake restoration schemes. Weed proliferation in fenced riparian areas is perceived as a threat by landholders for a variety of reasons. Landholders are usually extremely knowledgeable about local pasture weeds and the appropriate management practices for them, however, knowledge about other weeds, particularly those that affect biodiversity in ungrazed situations, is much more variable.

Aim

A Weed Decision Support Tool has been developed to assist farmers and landholders to determine the most appropriate management strategies for a range of weeds that occur in riparian zones. The ability to assess weed threats rapidly and identify suitable management options for riparian land should increase the willingness of landholders to undertake or continue the protection of on-farm riparian biodiversity in the project areas.

Our approach

Existing information on weed distribution, their effects and their response to control measures was collated with local knowledge from farmers and others involved in riparian management in the project area. To ensure that the information is locally relevant, two different versions have been developed for the south west and eastern regions of the project area. The south west version was published in July 2004 and the version for the eastern end of the project area will be completed shortly.

The Weed Support Tool contains:

A series of flow charts highlighting the location of relevant information for different stages in assessing weed problems and planning management
Information on declared noxious weeds and the regional priority status of weeds, together with a listing of other weeds that threaten riparian biodiversity in the project area
A guide to recognising what stage of invasion a weed has reached and predicting how each weed may respond to removal of grazing and replanting of native trees
Advantages and disadvantages of different weed control techniques and for some important weeds, summary information on their particular properties and how to control them
Herbicide use in riparian zones, including how to avoid contaminating waterways
How to identify suitable goals, prepare a weed management plan and monitor to assess its success
Useful contact information and sources of further information are provided

Weed Management in Riparian Zones - SW Victoria (PDF 1.3MB)

Weed Management in Riparian Zones - SE Victoria (PDF 1.0MB)

To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Related Links

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Australian Weed Management (external link) is working to enhance the sustainability of farming systems and the conservation status of natural ecosystems across Australia through world-class collaborative research that targets generic control problems using integrated weed management.

Contact
Dr Sharon Aarons
Ph: (03) 5624 2222
Email: Sharon.Aarons@dpi.vic.gov.au

Module 1: What lives along your stream? Quantifying on-farm riparian biodiversity

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 1 - Quantifying on-farm riparian biodiversity (PDF 289KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Module 2: Wood to Water: habitat creation within restored and replanted riparian land

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 2 Wood to Water: Habitat creation within replanted riparian land (PDF 142KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Module 3: Regeneration in remnant vegetation: overcoming the barriers

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 3 - Regeneration in remnant vegetation: Overcoming the barriers (PDF145KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Module 4: Expert weed system: a support tool for on-farm management

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 4 - Riparian weed management system: Development of on-farm management tool (PDF 70KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Module 5: Riparian condition and land-use practices: a survey of riparian health on dairy farms

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 5 - Riparian condition and land-use practices: A survey of riparian health & condition on dairy farms (PDF 127KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Module 6: Riparian zone management: reducing water quality impacts from dairy cows

Productive Grazing, Healthy Rivers - Improving riparian and in-stream biodiversity - Project Report 2006 - Module 6 - Riparian zone management: Reducing water quality impacts on dairy cows (PDF 304KB). To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

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