Bebawi, F.

Campbell, S.

Madigan, M.

Vitelli, J.

University of Queensland eSpace

150
Fourteenth Australian Weeds Conference
Summary   In northern Queensland, an integrated 
trial has been established to determine the most cost 
effective combination of primary and secondary (fol-
low-up) treatments for the control of bellyache bush 
(Jatropha gossypiifolia L.). This paper reports on 
the effectiveness of the primary control techniques 
that were applied: control, burning, foliar spraying 
(using metsulfuron (Brush Off®)), stickraking (using 
a D7 Dozer) and slashing (using a tractor-mounted 
slasher). Measurements undertaken included mortal-
ity of juvenile (up to 20 cm height), mature (20–100 
cm height) and old (>100 cm height) bellyache bush 
plants, and post-treatment seedling recruitment and 
pasture response. Both slashing and the application 
of herbicide caused 100% mortality, irrespective of 
the size of plants. Fire was most effective on smaller 
plants (96% mortality), with effi cacy decreasing with 
increasing size of plants. In contrast, stickraking was 
most effective on the largest plants (99% mortality). 
The natural mortality (control) was 38%. 
For every plant killed by spraying, slashing, stick-
raking and burning, 20, 97, 74, and 69 plants were 
recruited from the seed bank, respectively. For every 
plant that died naturally, 74 were recruited from the 
seed bank. The impact of primary treatments on pasture 
yield varied between treatments. Brush Off increased 
pasture yield 17% when compared with the control 
whereas slashing, stickraking and burning reduced 
pasture yield 37%, 24% and 40%, respectively. Results 
suggest that foliar spraying of bellyache bush with met-
sulfuron was the best singular control method in terms 
of kill effectiveness, level of post-treatment seedling 
recruitment and sustainability of pasture yield.
Keywords    Bellyache bush,  Jatropha gossypiifolia, 
 weed control,  north Queensland.
INTRODUCTION
Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) is currently 
one of the major exotic weeds invading the rangelands 
of northern Queensland (Bebawi et al. 2002). It is 
present to varying degrees in riparian and sub-riparian 
habitats of the Burdekin, Walsh, Palmer, Flinders and 
Gregory Rivers (Csurhes 1999, P. Davies pers. comm.). 
In western Queensland, it is found in the headwaters 
of Lake Eyre Basin. 
Integrated control methods for bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) 
in northern Queensland: preliminary results
 Faiz Bebawi1,2,  Joseph Vitelli1,2,  Shane Campbell1,2 and  Matthew Madigan1
1 Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines, and Energy, Tropical Weeds Research Centre, 
PO Box 187, Charters Towers, Queensland 4820, Australia
2 CRC for Australian Weed Management
Bellyache bush forms dense, impenetrable, mono-
specifi c thickets, which reduce pasture productivity, 
hinder mustering and obscure fence lines (Miller and 
Pitt 1990, Csurhes 1999). It is unpalatable to stock and 
its seeds are toxic to insects, stock and humans (Chat-
terjee et al. 1980, Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001). 
This paper reports preliminary results from a 
large-scale trial currently being undertaken to develop 
integrated control strategies for bellyache bush. It re-
ports impacts of singular treatments of burning, foliar 
spraying, stickraking and slashing on bellyache bush 
plant mortality, post-treatment seedling recruitment 
and pasture yield responses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study site comprised four large blocks (approx. 
1000 m by 100 m) located at Southern Cross Creek 
(20°01´38´´ S, 146°01´55´´ E), 12 km north west of 
Charters Towers, north Queensland. All blocks were 
fenced to exclude cattle. Vegetation at the fi eld site 
was open woodland with a canopy dominated by Eu-
calyptus spp., a mid-storey dominated by bellyache 
bush and false sandalwood (Eremophila mitchellii 
Benth.), and an under-storey dominated by buffel grass 
(Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and native couch (Brachyachne 
convergens (F.Muell.) Stapf). Long-term annual mean 
rainfall for this region is 658 mm per annum (Bureau 
of Meteorology 1988). The daily temperature range in 
summer (November to April) is between 27° and 37°C 
and in winter (June to August) between 15° and 18°C 
(Bureau of Meteorology, 1988).
A 5 × 4 factorial experiment replicated four times, 
using a randomised complete block design, was imple-
mented at the experimental site. Factor A comprised 
fi ve primary control techniques: control (do nothing), 
foliar spraying (using metsulfuron at 6 g 100 L-1 (Brush 
Off®) plus wetting agent (Uptake 3 mL L-1)), slashing 
(using a tractor-mounted slasher), stickraking (using a 
D7 Dozer – 7 m blade), and burning. Factor B was four 
secondary (follow-up) control methods: control, foliar 
spraying, slashing, and burning. Brush Off was selected 
because it is one of the recommended foliar chemicals 
for controlling bellyache bush (Csurhes 1999). 
Plots were approximately 8 m × 65 m in size, with 
each plot surrounded by a 5 m fi rebreak to ensure 
151
Fourteenth Australian Weeds Conference
identity and integrity of plots. Bellyache bush den-
sity per plot averaged 58,000 plants per hectare (SE 
± 15,000). The trial was initiated in April–May 2002 
with follow-up treatments in 2003.
Plant mortality   Prior to the application of primary 
treatments, 20 live bellyache bush plants of three dif-
ferent life-stages that included juvenile (up to 20 cm 
height), mature (20–100 cm height) and old (>100 
cm height) plants were marked with numbered pegs. 
Live plants could be readily identifi ed as they exuded 
colourless latex when struck with a sharp knife at the 
base of the stem, and the characteristic colour of the 
internal parts of the cut bark was green. 
Plant mortality was determined a year later, before 
the onset of the wet season and application of second-
ary treatments.
Seedling recruitment   Twelve months after the im-
plementation of primary treatments, seedling counts 
were recorded within 80 systematically placed 50 × 
50 cm quadrats per plot. To avoid errors arising from 
edge effects, measurements were not taken within 1 
m of plot boundaries.
Pasture response   Within the same quadrats used to 
record seedling densities, the yield and composition of 
the pasture was visually estimated using the compara-
tive yield method (Botanal) (Haydock and Shaw 1975, 
Tothill et al. 1978). 
Data analysis   For all parameters measured, analy-
sis of variance was performed to detect differences 
between control methods. Percentages were arcsine-
transformed prior to statistical analysis and later 
back-transformed.
RESULTS
Plant mortality   Signifi cant (P <0.01) control method 
× life stage interactions occurred for mortality of 
bellyache bush plants (Figure 1). 
Some natural attrition of bellyache bush occurred 
irrespective of treatment (as measured within control 
plots), with seedlings the most susceptible life stage 
(56% mortality). Both slashing and the application 
of herbicide caused 100% mortality, irrespective of 
the size of plants. Fire was most effective on smaller 
plants (96% mortality), with effi cacy decreasing with 
increasing size of plants. In contrast, stickraking was 
most effective on the largest plants (99% mortality). 
Seedling recruitment   Control methods signifi cantly 
(P <0.05) affected seedling recruitment the following 
year. For every plant killed by spraying, slashing, 
stickraking and burning, 20, 97, 74, and 69 plants 
emerged from the seed bank, respectively. For every 
plant that died naturally, 74 regrew from the seed 
bank.
Pasture yield   Highly signifi cant (P <0.01) differ-
ences in pasture yield were detected between control 
techniques (Figure 2) 12 months after the application 
of treatments. Pasture yield within foliar sprayed plots 
was 17% higher than that within controls (Figure 2). 
In contrast, fi re, stickraking and slashing reduced 
pasture yield 40%, 37%, and 24% respectively, when 
compared with the control (Figure 2).
Figure 1.   Mortality of juvenile, mature and adult 
bellyache bush plants as affected by primary control 
methods. Bars indicate the SE of the mean.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Co
ntr
ol Fir
e
Sti
ckr
aki
ng
Sla
shi
ng
Fo
liar
 sp
ray
ing
Control methods
M
or
ta
lit
y 
(%
)
Juvenile Mature Adult
Figure 2.   Pasture yield responses to primary control 
methods compared with the control. Bars indicate the 
SE of the mean.
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Control methods
Pa
st
ur
e 
yie
ld
 (%
)
Fi
re
St
ick
ra
kin
g
Sl
as
hi
ng
Fo
lia
r
sp
ra
yin
g
152
Fourteenth Australian Weeds Conference
DISCUSSION
Several primary control techniques proved effective 
in killing bellyache bush, with highest mortality 
achieved using foliar spraying and slashing. Seedling 
recruitment over the ensuing wet season occurred in 
all treatments, but was generally least in foliar sprayed 
plots and highest in those that had been slashed. 
The results achieved by the fi re and slashing treat-
ments are consistent with fi ndings from previous stud-
ies on bellyache bush (Bebawi and Campbell 2002a, 
b). Vitelli and Madigan (2002) also found Brushoff to 
be an effective foliar herbicide when applied aerially, 
but they emphasised the need for follow up control to 
treat the large-scale seedling regrowth that may occur 
following initial treatment.
The higher pasture yield in foliar sprayed plots 
is most probably attributable to the removal of com-
petition from bellyache bush in a manner that caused 
minimal disturbance to the herbaceous vegetation, due 
to the selective nature of the herbicide used. All other 
treatments implemented would have caused some level 
of disturbance to the herbaceous vegetation.
Whilst the application of herbicides appears the 
most promising technique at this stage, fi nal recom-
mendations need to be deferred until secondary control 
options are implemented. Effi cacy data will then be 
considered in combination with the costs of treat-
ments in order to identify effective control strategies 
that not only remove initial infestations but also treat 
subsequent regrowth.
No single recommendation will be applicable 
for all situations where bellyache bush grows. For 
example, slashing may be feasible in open woodlands 
with a fl at terrain but not in riparian habitats where the 
vegetation is generally dense and the terrain rough. 
Other research being undertaken in conjunction 
with this integrated trial includes studies into the 
longevity of soil seed banks of bellyache bush. This 
information will identify how long follow up control 
will need to be implemented. Biological control op-
tions for bellyache bush have also been investigated 
and one agent (the jewel bug Agonosoma trilineatum 
Fabricius) is currently being mass reared and released 
on infestations in northern Queensland and the North-
ern Territory. This bug feeds on the fruits of bellyache 
bush and if effective should reduce the quantity of 
viable seed entering the soil seed bank. 
It is envisaged that on completion of the ecological 
and agronomic research currently being undertaken 
on bellyache bush, effective integrated strategies will 
be available to assist landholders with management of 
this highly invasive and noxious weed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge the families of Ralph 
Woodard and Bob Taylor for allowing us to undertake 
research on their properties. We also thank D. Panetta 
for reviewing the manuscript and the staff of the Tropi-
cal Weeds Research Centre for their assistance with 
implementation of treatments.
REFERENCES
Bebawi, F.F. and Campbell, S.D. (2002a). Impact of 
fi re on bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) 
plant mortality and seedling recruitment. Tropical 
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Bebawi, F.F. and Campbell, S.D. (2002b). The response 
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cut off at different heights and seasonal times. 
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Bebawi, F.F., Campbell, S.D. and Stanley, T.D. (2002). 
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Bureau of Meteorology (1988). ‘Climatic averages 
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Integrated control methods for bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.)in northern Queensland: preliminary results

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Integrated control methods for bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.)in northern Queensland: preliminary results

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