Multi-species swards: more forage with less fertiliser, and more resilient to drought

Based on a Teagasc press release from August 2021

Six-species swards outperformed perennial ryegrass monocultures and were considerably more resistant to drought. New research from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle and Trinity College Dublin shows that multi-species mixtures receiving 150 kg/ha/year of nitrogen fertiliser, out-yielded perennial ryegrass monocultures receiving double that amount of fertiliser (300 kg/ha/year). Increases in plant diversity up to six species in intensively managed grasslands reduced the impact of drought, and produced more yield with less fertiliser.

6-species swards from dairy grazing system at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle. 

Our research on multi-species mixtures at British Grassland Society

The British Grassland Society's 13th Research Conference addressed 'Multi-species Swards' on 2-4 March 2021. Here are links to some of our contributions to the conference, including an invited presentation, a research presentation and a poster. 

CAP4Nature Report

 

This link opens a report from an Irish workshop to solicit biodiversity scientists' opinions as part of an EU series of workshops requested to address the topic 'The Common Agricultural Policy post-2020: A new Green Architecture, Novel Eco-schemes and biodiversity indicators. How can scientists and science help to make it work?' 

Multi-species swards: links to webinars

 

This post lists some webinars and videos on multi-species swards that our research group has contributed to. 

Multi-species grassland mixtures: some recent Irish research

Multi-species mixtures are expected to benefit grassland production because of the yield advantage from nitrogen fixed by clover, the variety of rooting structures allows them to access a wider range of soil water and nutrients, and their canopy structure that allows them to intercept more sunlight. In addition, they are associated with lower parasite loads in livestock, reduced greenhouse emissions, and increased carbon sequestration. Here, we give a brief overview of some of our current (2020) research on mixtures at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle.

Our recent online webinars on biodiversity

As part of Virtual Beef Week (July 8th), there is an online presentation and interview with the Farmer's Journal on biodiversity policy, videos of on-farm practices to improve farmland biodiversity, and interviews with farmers implementing these practices as part of the BRIDE EIP. Also discussion of habitat quantity, quality and results-based payments. With myself, Catherine Keena and Daire Ó hUallacháin of Teagasc. (From 8.17 to 30 mins in the video.)

Teagasc Research Insights Webinars Dec 16th, 2020. In this talk, I give an overview of some of our research on the extent and distribution of farmland habitats at a national and farm scale. I also introduce results-based payments for delivery of biodiversity improvements. (From 1.30 to 19 mins in the video). 

In this webinar as part of the Burren Winterage School (Oct 2020), I discuss some of the principles of results-based approaches for biodiversity conservation. This is illustrated with examples from Irish projects, programmes and case studies that have been applying results-based approaches. It's only fitting that we presented our work back to the Winterage School, as this is where we first committed to publish the book of case studies on results-based payments! (From 30.50 to 54 min). 

In a recent youtube video about multi-species grassland mixtures by DLF, see Guylain Grange and Saoirse Cummins (Teagasc, Johnstown Castle) talk about their research (from 4.09 minutes), amid related research ongoing at UCD and WIT.