Mat grasses
(Axonopus affinis and A. compressus)

creeping grass tolerant of low fertility soils can be replaced by raising fertility.

Mat grasses are creeping species very tolerant of the low fertility conditions which used to dominate considerable areas of Queensland coastal and tableland dairy pastures They can be controlled by ploughing, seeding to other species, and fertilising.

Nitrogen fertiliser can allow kikuyu to replace mat grass. A. affinis, narrow-leafed mat or carpet grass, is more common in southern districts, whereas A. compressus, broad-leafed carpet grass, is more common under wetter conditions and is often found in over-watered lawns

Broad-leafed carpet grass is shade-tolerant and commonly grows under plantation crops in the tropics.

Creator: Ian Partridge,
Date created: 14 April 1998  Revised: 15 January 2003

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