PASTURE recovery after serious bushfires has shown to be surprisingly good.
Many pasture species prove to be resilient and, with follow-up rain, can make a good recovery.
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Tumut NSW Industry and Investment agronomist Nathan Ferguson told a bushfire preparedness field day this month that destocking, seeking advice and determining the temperature of the burn were essential steps in a speedy recovery.
Next, assess the seasonal outlook, review paddock history and develop an action plan, Nathan said.
Determine the pasture species, fertility status, review carrying capacity and weed potential, then monitor the recovery.
"Ground cover is king and protects the soil surface, so leave stock away until pastures have recovered to the point where further damage is minimal. This could be up for to 12 months," he said.
Nathan said fire did provide a reason for renovating run-down pastures.
"It gives an opportunity to control weeds or move fences not in the right place," he said. "Concentrate your efforts on the paddocks with the highest production potential with the best soil."
Nathan said well-established phalaris survived bushfires well and responded quickly to rainfall.
But, phalaris staggers could be a problem when stock grazed the young shoots after summer or autumn rain.
Well-established cocksfoot, being shallower rooted and more tussocky than phalaris, was more prone to damage.
Tall fescue was another good survivor and responded quickly to summer-autumn rain.
Nathan said perennial ryegrass suffered the most of any pasture species, especially in a hot fire.
The surface crowns could be badly burnt and plant survival poor.
Sub clover was not severely affected and neither was lucerne.
"The rate of sub clover regeneration greatly depends on the seed reserves in the soil," Nathan said.
When large areas had been burnt, stocking at normal rates could badly affect recovery.
"It may be necessary to overstock selected paddocks to assist regeneration," he said.
"Sacrifice paddocks should be arable and due to be improved in the future."
