Mitchell Grass Management Practices

The video discusses the significance of Mitchell Grass in Australia, highlighting its ecological importance for biodiversity and livestock. It covers management practices like maintaining stubble height and spelling country. The adaptation of Mitchell Grass to climate variability is explored, focusing on its dual root system. The video concludes with lessons for global agriculture, emphasizing the importance of managing livestock numbers during droughts.

What recent weather condition has benefited the Mitchell Grass country in Eastern Australia?

• Snowfall

• Above-average rainfall

• Extreme heat

• Drought

Where is Mitchell Grass endemic to?

• Asia

• Africa

• South America

• Australia

What is a key management practice for maintaining Mitchell Grass?

• Cutting the grass to the ground

• Flooding the fields

• Leaving stubble height of 15 to 20 cm

• Burning the grass

What is the purpose of spelling country in Mitchell Grass management?

• To increase soil erosion

• To rest the land after initial rains

• To plant new grass species

• To increase livestock numbers

How does Mitchell Grass survive during droughts?

• By shedding its leaves

• Through a dual root system

• By storing water in its leaves

• By growing taller

What is a significant feature of the Mitchell Grass root system?

• It grows only in sandy soils

• It has a single root layer

• It is shallow and wide

• It has a dual root system

What is a key benefit of the dual root system of Mitchell Grass?

• It reduces the need for sunlight

• It makes the plant more colorful

• It helps the plant survive droughts

• It allows the plant to grow taller

What should be done when pasture is declining due to drought?

• Increase livestock numbers

• Reduce livestock numbers

• Water the fields more frequently

• Plant more grass

What challenge is faced when trying to rebuild livestock numbers after a drought?

• Lack of available livestock

• High cost of livestock

• Difficulty in quickly rebuilding numbers

• Lack of pasture

What is a lesson from Mitchell Grass management that can be applied globally?

• Always increase livestock numbers

• Ignore climate variability

• Quickly reduce livestock numbers during drought

• Plant more trees