construction and refurbishment of earthen irrigation channel banks

Species Growing Conditions Establishment Advantages Disadvantages NotesKikuyuPlanting by runners Will compete with other(Pennisetumis preferred. speciesclandestinum)Common Couch(Cynodondactylon)English Couch orTwitch (Agropyronrepens)Lippia(Phyla nodiflora)Kidney Weed(Dichondrarepens)1. Prefers light sandysoils.2. Grows best inhumid conditionsbut will thrive inthe humid microclimateadjacent towater’s edge.Vigorous lawn speciesin areas with WinterrainfallA prostrate perennialherbA prostrate perennialherb similar to LippiaVegetativepropagation fromlocal plants is oftenmore successfulthan sowing seed.Seed or vegetativepropagationVegetativelypropagatedVegetativelypropagatedTolerates dryconditions, low fertilityand high salinity levelsbetter than most otherspecies.1. Requires minimalmowing2. Requires minimalwater.1. Requires minimalmowing and water2. Hardier than Lippia1. Seeding varieties may migrateby water or into adjacent land2. Growth can be prolific duringwet and warm conditions.Therefore slashing, grazing orchemical spraying will benecessary to keep undercontrol.Can migrate into waterway. Moderately resistant to glyphosateand atrazine. Low rates of theseherbicides could encourage thespread of Couch as other moresensitive vegetation is retarded oreliminated by herbicide.Can become a problem weed innatural wetland areas or pasture1. can escape and naturalise in 1. Used on channel banks in thefavourable situations,Kerang & Cohuna (nth Vic)particularly clayey floodplain 2. Used on nature strips insoils, where it can quickly northern Victoriacover large areas.3. Free flowering and usually2. Not grazed by stock and in well worked by bees.some localities is regarded as aweed.Same as for Lippia.Table 17-2 Grasses which can be planted on channel banks in northern Victoria and southern New South WalesConstruction and Refurbishment of Earthen Channel Banks August 2002 – Edition 1.0 17-9