Get reliable rangeland science

The spread of invasive native shrub (INS) is a major problem in the semi-arid zone of western NSW. Although there are well established methods to control these plants, prohibitive cost and/or limited effectiveness have been major limitations. Short term cropping is widely claimed to be a practical and economically viable method of reducing INS and promoting the restoration of native grasslands. However, these claims have received little critical evaluation and there are at least some theoretical grounds for belief that the transition may not always be straightforward. This project aims to survey post-cropping and post-clearing vegetation in the Western Catchment to evaluate the potential of opportunistic cropping for control of INS and restoration of native perennial grasslands.