New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Invited paper
Pastoral weeds in New Zealand: status and potential solutions
G. W. Bourdôt1
S. V. Fowler2
G. R. Edwards3
D. J. Kriticos4
J. M. Kean1
A. Rahman5
A. J. Parsons6
1AgResearch Ltd
Lincoln
Private Bag 4749
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
graeme.bourdot@agresearch.co.nz
2Landcare Research
PO Box 69
Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
3Agricultural Science & Life Sciences Group
PO Box 84
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
4Ensis
Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park
Private Bag 3020
Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
5AgResearch Ltd
Ruakura Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
6AgResearch Ltd
Grasslands Research Centre
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Abstract Currently there are some 187 plant
species, almost all exotic in origin, occurring as "weeds" in pastures
in New Zealand. Judging from their occurrence in scientific papers
published in the proceedings of the New Zealand Plant Protection
Society, 65 of these species are, or have been considered historically,
to be significant pastoral weeds. While 34 of these pastoral weeds are
currently being managed under Regional Pest Management Strategies, 15
of these regionally managed species are apparently un-researched in New
Zealand, implying that their management does not have a scientific
basis. The aggregate cost of pastoral weeds to the New Zealand economy
is estimated to be NZ$1.2 billion per annum, based on an analysis made
in 1984, but this analysis is hampered by a lack of both objective data
on the impacts of weeds on pastoral production and an accurate and
comprehensive national census of the main problem species. Ongoing
naturalisations, from an existing pool of exotic plant species
estimated currently at 25 000, and new arrivals through international
trade in plant species and germplasm, can be expected to steadily add
to the list of pastoral weeds. Prioritisation of these weed species
will be necessary if New Zealand's pastoral agricultural industries are
to make long-term, economically optimal decisions about their
management. Such prioritisation will require robust models of their
current and potential distributions, their rates of population increase
and spread, a full understanding of the merits and pitfalls of
alternative control options, and robust models of their impacts on
pastoral productivity.
Keywords biological control; biosecurity;
competition; economics; germplasm; herbicides; herbicide resistance;
models; naturalisation; pastoral weeds; sleeper weeds; weed management
A06052; Online publication date 20 April 2007; Received 16 September
2006; accepted 27 February 2007
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2007, Vol. 50:
139—161
0028—8233/07/5002—0139 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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