Vegetation Managers Forum with IVMP Project Partners

The Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) conducted a Vegetation Managers Forum with Project Partners on the Gold Coast in August to present the results from year one and two of the project. The forum featured guest speakers from the project technical team and the project‘s lead partner Technigro.

The Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) is a collaborative research project being conducted in Australia from December 2007 until December 2010. This project aims to identify the most appropriate practices for vegetation management issues facing modern asset managers in Australia, with a focus on mown vegetation.

The IVMP is funded by industry and government partners including Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Horticulture Australia and Technigro. The project is also supported by Bayer Environmental Science and Syngenta.

The IVMP Vegetation Managers Forum commenced with a presentation by Mr Nick Bloor, Technigro CEO. Nick introduced the purpose of the project and explained why as the lead partner, Technigro are deeply committed to the project. He described how Technigro have already commenced integrating some of the methods researched in IVMP into their vegetation work programs.

Dr Travis Gannon, a research scientist from the University of North Carolina and who is a part of the IVMP Technical Team, attended as a special guest to share his knowledge and experience on IVM in roadside management and how these practices have been successfully utilised in North Carolina in the United States. Travis has worked with Dr. Fred Yelverton since 1999 and he has coordinated projects in all facets of turf, including sports turf, amenity turf, golf courses and roadsides.

A major focus for Travis has been his work with North Carolina’s Department of Transportation (NCDOT) developing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) programs for roadsides and other non-crop areas. This work has included strategies to convert existing roadsides to low maintenance species and application placement technologies for herbaceous vegetation management, utilising both herbicides and PGRs.

A number of the innovative practices and vegetation management methodologies developed by NCDOT in conjunction with NCSU would be worthy of implementation in Australia. The IVMP Project is currently exploring a number of these innovations, with the support of both North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers and the NCDOT’ Roadside Environmental Unit.

IVMP Project Technical Team

The IVMP Project Technical Team comprises representatives from the project partners, combined with suitably experienced and qualified persons from Industry, Government and Research Institutions. The members of the Technical Team have been selected based upon their knowledge and expertise in vegetation management.

In recent weeks Research Scientists Dr Sheldon Navie (UQ) and Travis Gannon (NCSU) have joined the Technical Team adding further diversity to the knowledge and experience of our Research Team.

To find out more about the Team researching better ways to manage mown vegetation visit the Technical Team Page on the IVMP website

IVMP Year Two Field Efficacy Trials

Preparation for Year Two of the IVMP commenced in August 2008 through September 2008, with the Technical Team reviewing Year One trial data, finalising the protocols for the Y2 Phytotoxicity trials and developing protocols for the field efficacy trial work.

Members of the Technical Team also sought approval for the use of suitable trial sites for the field efficacy trial work in both Queensland and New South Wales throughout October and November 2008. Project Partners Brisbane City Council approved a site within the Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve at Boondall, Gold Coast City Council approved a site within Albert Park, Broadbeach Waters and with support from Hornsby Council in Sydney a trial site within Fagan Park was established.

The continuation of screening trials to evaluate products considered to have potential in assisting in the management of the undesirable grass species was undertaken in Y2 by the Turf Research Scientists at the DPI Redlands Research Station.

Evaluations commenced in December 2008 assessing the phytotoxic effects of the IVMP products on twenty eight desirable turfgrass species during the summer season of 2008. The trials were placed over the same plots as the Y1 Phytotoxicity trials, ensuring two years of data over corresponding plots undertaken during two different seasons; Autumn Y1 and Summer Y2.

Field Efficacy Trials also commenced in December 2008, with Valencia Ecosystems engaged to complete the trial work at two sites, Tinchi Tamba in Brisbane and Fagan Park in Sydney. The focus of these field trials was to evaluate the efficacy of selected growth regulators and herbicides in managing problematic grass species in open space reserve situations, with particular emphasis as to their effects on growth regulation, seed head suppression and species composition conversion.

The Field Efficacy Trials ran for a period of three months with repeat applications of sixteen different treatments, as determined in the trial protocols, applied throughout the peak growing season. The results of the field efficacy trials were particularly encouraging, highlighting both seed head suppression and control options for the target weed species Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) and other Paspalum species including a widespread problem in Australian amenity turf, Common Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum).

Results from Y2 trial data suggest a number of IVMP treatments with potential in suppressing growth and seed head production. This would translate into significant broad ranging benefits to asset owners and those managing mown vegetation. As an example, in situations where areas are dominated by an undesirable such as Bahia grass, the trail data suggests that there would be a range of environmentally responsible, sustainable options available to significantly reduce mowing requirements during the peak growing season. Further to this, in situations where areas are dominated by desirable species, the trial data suggests that the IVMP has unearthed a number of tools that may be suitable for use in the removal of undesirable Paspalum species using either unscheduled or Schedule 5 herbicides with a far greater degree of human and environmental safety than the arsenate based products currently used.

To further explore these exciting developments, in June 2009, Dr Sheldon Navie from the University of Queensland joined the IVMP Technical Team in a Research Support role. Dr Navie¡¯s focus is to review the IVMP trial data, other IVM research data from similar projects and to communicate with the various project partners, collaborators and research agencies both in Australia and internationally.

Also in August 2009, the IVMP has arranged for Research Scientists from the North Carolina State University (NSCU) to visit Australia. This visit has been planned to coincide with a number of events in Australia, including:

1. the Vegetation Manager's Forum to update the IVMP Project Partners,

2. a review of Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Programs implemented by Technigro to manage roadside vegetation and amenity turf in partnership with Gold Coast City Council and the Queensland DOT, and

3. the final planning meetings of the IVMP Technical Team to determine strategy for Year Three of the project.