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. 

Plant diversity and yield in agricultural grasslands

There is a lot of discussion about the use of multi-species mixtures within grazed grassland systems. Here, I take a look at *some* of the evidence - but note that this is definitely NOT intended to be a literature review. 

Multi-species mixtures: our publications

I regularly get asked for references to our work on multi-species mixtures. Here’s an overview of the research that we have published over the last 15 years or so.

Benefits of legume-based livestock systems (Conference presentation)

Following my recent post on the EGF 2013 (European Grassland Federation) Symposium in Iceland, presentations are now available at the EGF 2013 homepage
Update: Proceedings now available at: http://www.egf2013.is/

Experimental drought is underway

At last, the rain shelters are deployed, and our experimental drought is underway.

This just happens to coincide with some of the finest Irish weather in decades, so we may have to irrigate the control plots!

Our research at European Grassland Federation 2013

The Role of Grasslands in a Green Future

Proceedings of the 17th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation (Eds. Áslaug Helgadóttir, Alan Hopkins)

Akureyri, Iceland, 23-26 June 2013

This was another excellent EGF conference at a wonderful location in Akureyri, Iceland. The scientific programme was as impressive as the social programme, which featured waterfalls, geysers, choirs, horse exhibitions, and 'cured shark'. Cured shark is certainly an acquired taste, and was considered by one participant as tasting like 'a baby's nappy' (or what they imagined a baby's nappy would taste like...).

Here, I provide the titles, abstracts and contact details of the four contributions that we made to EGF2013. Of particular interest was the growing frequency of research into multi-species mixutres of grasses and legumes. The opening talk by my good friend and long-time collaborator Andi Lüscher was a tour de force of this theme, and his paper will be published in Grass and Forage Science in due course. I also provide the abstract of his talk.  

Public dissemination of our research on grassland production

Science for Environment Policy is a free news and information service published by Directorate-General Environment, European Commission. It provides quality environmental research for evidence-based policy.

The June 2013 issue featured our recently published research:

"Multi-species mixtures for greater productivity and environmental resilience

A recent study has revealed that grassland plots planted with a mixture of several agricultural plant species produced a greater yield than plots planted with a single species. The findings provide valuable evidence for scientists, farmers and policymakers who strive to increase the productivity of grassland, while reducing input of nitrogen fertilisers."

This publication was based on our recent journal article:

Finn, J. A., Kirwan, L., Connolly, J., et al. (2013) Ecosystem function enhanced by combining four functional types of plant species in intensively managed grassland mixtures: a 3-year continental-scale field experiment. Journal of Applied Ecology. 50: 365-375.

Doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12041

UPDATE: Open Access version at: http://hdl.handle.net/11019/438

New project: experimental drought on field plots





Knowledge of the effect of severe weather events is a major uncertainty in models that aim to predict the effect of climate change on agricultural systems. As part of the EU-funded AnimalChange experiment, we are testing the effects of severe weather events on grassland production, and the potential role of multi-species mixtures as a mitigation/adaptation measure.