Use of Rotational Stocking in Combination With Cultural Practices for Smutgrass Control—A Florida Case Study

Abstract

Smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus) is a perennial warm- season bunch grass native to tropical Asia and an invasive weed in pasture areas and roadsides in the United States. In Florida, the site of the 67th So- ciety for Range Management Annual Meeting,i it ranks as a i The 67th SRM Annual Meeting, From Dusty Trails to Waning Wetlands, will be held in Orlando, Florida, USA, 8–13 February 2014. Join us there to learn more about Florida rangelands. For more information on the 2014 SRM Annual Meeting, see http://www.rangelands.org/events/. top weed because of the poor palatability, proli c seed pro- duction, adaptation to infertile sandy soils, and challenges to keep it from spreading. In Florida, greater than half the pas- tures planted to bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) are invaded by this weed. Two types of Smutgrass are found in the state, a small type (var. indicus) and a giant type (var. pyramidalis).1 The small type is found throughout the state, and the giant smutgrass is prevalent in south and central Florida, with in- vasion increasing toward north Florida.

DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v35i5_walter