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Improvement of native grassland in the uplands
Author(s) -
Newbould P.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1985.tb00654.x
Subject(s) - pasture , grazing , agronomy , hectare , grassland , trifolium repens , environmental science , livestock , lime , fodder , fertilizer , lotus corniculatus , agroforestry , biology , agriculture , ecology , paleontology
. Recent progress in the techniques for improving the quality and quantity of herbage produced from indigenous hill pasture is described. There is general agreement on the main technical requirements for most situations. Knowledge of hill soils and vegetation and of the proposed grazing strategies for hill sheep are required initially so that the most economical and biologically appropriate method can be selected. In brief, soil pH must be raised by liming to at least 5.5; for each hectare, between 40–60 kg P and 80–100 kg K must be added plus a starter dressing of between 50–100 kg N after which a seeds mixture of grasses and white clover (25–30 kg seed ha −1 ) should be sown. Inoculation of clover seed with rhizobia is advised for all hill soil types but is essential for white clover sown in deep peat. Seeds must be sown in April or May, cultivation should be limited as far as possible for both technical and financial reasons, and new pastures should be grazed lightly initially, with subsequent rest periods to aid the persistence of white clover. Maintenance dressings of lime and fertilizer are required, more so in wetter areas. Careful monitoring of stock grazing recently improved hill pasture is advised to check for the occurrence of trace element problems. It is clear that the key to more efficient livestock rearing in the hills and uplands lies in pasture improvement and optimum utilization and maintenance of the upgraded pastures.