Buffel grass
Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus pennisetiformis
Weed profile
Annual
Grass
Fire hazard- Habitat: native vegetation, pastures, rangelands
Impact
Invades rangeland. Eliminates native species. Fire hazard.
Description
- Tussock grass, usually perennial, to 1.5 m tall.
- Leaves flat, to 30 cm long.
- Seedheads form a dense, hairy cylindrical spike.
Control options
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 4.8L/ha
Product Name: agVantage Glyphosate 450®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Boom spray, while actively growing.
Comments:
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Add 2% pine oil for seed destruction.
Apply to fresh foliage. Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness (allow 10 - 15cm regrowth).
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 3L/ha
Product Name: agVantage Glyphosate 450®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Boom spray, December - March. after summer rains.
Comments:
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Add 2% pine oil for seed destruction. Apply to fresh foliage. Slashing to promote fresh growth before spraying will increase effectiveness (allow 10 to 15cm regrowth).
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
paraquat (135g/L) + diquat (115g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 240-320mL/100L
Product Name: Pacific Diquat/Paraquat 250®
Herbicide Group: 22
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, up to flowering.
Comments: Poisonous if swallowed; may irritate eyes and skin. Thoroughly wet foliage. Use the high rate for denser weed growth.
Legal Status: Registered for this use, but this weed is not on the label.
flupropanate (745g/L) + glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Wiper
Application Rate: 500mL + 260mL/10L
Product Name: Taskforce® + agVantage Glyphosate 450®
Herbicide Group: 0, 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Wiper, December - March. after summer rains.
Comments:
- Add a non-ionic surfactant.
- 2% pine oil for seed destruction.
- Apply to fresh foliage.
- Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness (allow 10 - 15 cm for regrowth).
- Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
- Residues in the soil may suppress weeds and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 500mL/100L
Product Name: agVantage Glyphosate 450®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, while actively growing.
Comments:
Add a non-ionic surfactant.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Add 2% pine oil for seed destruction.
Apply to fresh foliage. Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness (allow 10 - 15 cm regrowth). Residues in the soil and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
flupropanate (745g/L) + glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 300mL + 260mL/100L
Product Name: Taskforce® + Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 0, 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, December - March. after summer rains
Comments:
- Add a non-ionic surfactant.
- Apply to fresh foliage.
- Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness.
- Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
- Residues in the soil may suppress weeds and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
flupropanate (745g/L) + glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 3L + 300-500mL/ha
Product Name: Taskforce® + Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 0, 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Boom spray, December - March. after summer rains
Comments:
Add a non-ionic surfactant. Apply to fresh foliage. Apply glyphosate alone for seed set suppression; or for control mix flupropanate with glyphosate. Use the higher rate if the weed is dense.
Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Residues in the soil may suppress weeds and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
haloxyfop-p (520g/l)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 160mL/100L
Product Name: Verdict 520®
Herbicide Group: 1
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, while actively growing
Comments:
Weeds must not be moisture stressed. Add Uptake® spraying oil at 500 mL/100 L
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
flupropanate (745g/L)
Application Method: Wiper
Application Rate: 500mL/10L
Product Name: Taskforce®
Herbicide Group: 0
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Wiper, December - March. after summer rains.
Comments:
Add a non-ionic surfactant. A slow-working residual. If spraying late in the season add glyphosate for faster knockdown.
Apply to fresh foliage. Slashing to promote fresh growth 2-3 weeks before spraying will increase effectiveness (allow 10 - 15 cm regrowth).
Residues in the soil may suppress weeds and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
flupropanate (745g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 300mL/100L
Product Name: Taskforce®
Herbicide Group: 0
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, December - March. after summer rains.
Comments:
Add a non-ionic surfactant. Add 2% pine oil for seed destruction. A slow-working residual. If spraying late in the season add glyphosate for faster knockdown. Do not graze or cut for stockfeed for at least 14 days after application. Residues in the soil may suppress weeds and other susceptible species for one to two years.
Legal Status: PER 9792 (exp. 2025)
Legal requirements in each region
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Green Adelaide Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
land owners in this region must notify the Green Adelaide Board of any infestation of the plant found on their land.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
land owners in this region must notify the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board of any infestation of the plant found on their land.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
land owners in this region must notify the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board of any infestation of the plant found on their land.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
land owners in this region must notify the Limestone Coast Landscape Board of any infestation of the plant found on their land.
Land owners in this region to eliminate the plant from their property. Enforceable by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be imported into the region.
land owners in this region must notify the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board of any infestation of the plant found on their land.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
More Information
- Declared plant policy for buffel grass ( or )
- Buffel grass factsheet ( or ).
- Buffel grass control fact sheet ()
- Buffel grass hygiene fact sheet ()
- Buffel grass identification fact sheet ()
- Buffel grass herbicide trials fact sheet ()
- Decision tool for buffel grass control ()
- Habitat suitability and susceptibility modelling for strategic control of invasive buffel grass, SA ()
- Buffel Grass Best Practice Workshop Report ()
A co-ordinated control approach has been developed in the revised:
Find out how to:
- benefit from the early intervention of new and emerging weeds - handbook
- best manage your use and storage of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
Control advice
For further help and advice managing this weed contact your regional landscape board: