Assessing pasture damage
After a flood or fire, it may take 2 to 3 weeks to properly assess pasture survival. Drought-stressed pastures may also be weakened and slow to recover.
Damage may include:
- silt or ash deposits that smother plants
- erosion or scalded patches
- reduced seed bank or lost topsoil
- smothered or collapsed pasture stands.
Pastures in good condition before an event are more likely to recover. In many cases, if you can count 5 or more desirable plants per square metre, the paddock may not need replanting. Give it time to recover and avoid grazing too early.
Managing recovery
Recovery strategies depend on the extent of damage and your available resources. Consider the following approaches.
Rest paddocks
Avoid grazing damaged paddocks too early. Let plants regrow leaves and allow seedlings to establish.
To support recovery, you can:
- move stock to agistment if possible
- set up a sacrifice paddock for hand feeding
- avoid overgrazing recovering areas.
Remove silt or mulch fire-damaged material
Pastures covered in silt or ash can struggle to regrow. Rainfall (15 to 20 mm) may help wash away debris. You can lightly mulch collapsed or matted vegetation but avoid cutting too low.
Control weeds
Weeds often appear after disruption. Some are toxic, others outcompete young pasture. Identify and control early using grazing, topping or herbicides.
Oversow or replant if needed
If you have areas with low survival, consider:
- oversowing with winter forages to fill feed gaps
- replanting tropical grasses for long-term recovery
- minimising soil disturbance to reduce weed risk
- using direct drilling or broadcasting with seed-to-soil contact.
Waterlogged or scorched soils may have nutrient deficiencies. You may need to delay fertiliser until seedlings are established and the soil is stable.
Contact Local Land Services NSW
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