Meredith Mitchell

The ecology of Microlaena stipoides in grazing systems.

Microlaena (Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides) is a native perennial grass that is widespread in native pastures of the temperate high rainfall zone (> 550 mm AAR) of south-eastern Australia. However, little is known about this grass in grazed communities. Microlaena produces highly digestible green growth year round and is able to persist over long periods through very dry summers. Yet, it has the reputation for responding to summer rainfall and providing high-nutritive value herbage.

Meredith’s thesis will address the underlying ecology of the species and examine those attributes which allow it to be sustained and increased in grazed native pastures. A greater understanding of species ecology will allow for better optimise its contribution to the provision of feed and ground cover.

Meredith’s research falls into the CRC’s Program 1 research area and is related to the EverGraze project.

Objectives:

• Understand of the morphology of microlaena.
• Understand the characters that contribute to the persistence microlaena in grazed pastures.
• Understand how microlaena perennates over summer.

For more information, email Meredith.