Grassland Research on Blanket Peat in Ireland

O'toole, M. A.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2494.1968.tb00550.x

Grass and Forage Science

1968

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1968.tb00550.x

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Grassland Research on Blanket Peat in Ireland

M. A. O'toole¹

Abstract: The results from 10 years of grassland research at the Peatland Experimental Station, Glenamoy, are summarized. Grass and legume species were introduced by surface seeding, without cultivation or by direct seeding after rotavation, depending on the specific situation. The rate of establishment was dependent on pretreatment and the management of grazing animals before and after sowing. The most suitable species were Trifolium repens, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca rubra and Holcus lanatus.

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1981

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Cited by 4 publications

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Herbage production from the hills and uplands

Frame¹,

Newbould²,

Munro

1985

BSAP Occas. Publ.

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The hills and uplands lie within the poorer ‘less favoured’ soil and climatic areas which account for almost 10 M ha of the UK's 19 M ha of agricultural land. Rough grazing comprises 6 M ha. Dry matter (DM) production from native hill swards, governed by soil type, climate and species composition, typically ranges from 1 to 5 t per ha, and is highly seasonal. The best grade of native hill sward is the bent-fescue (Agrostis/Festuca) association. Upland permanent pasture sward production is strongly influenced by the proportion of perennial ryegrass and level of fertilizer N input; typically, DM production ranges from 3.5 to 91 per ha.Constraints to herbage production include acid soils, impeded drainage and shortage of major plant nutrients particularly N and P. Deficiencies of some major nutrients and of trace elements in the plants can consequently have serious implications for livestock performance. Relationships among trace elements are particularly complex. The climate is severe and highly variable, with low temperatures, exposure to wind, high rainfall and frequent winter frosts being notable features. Bracken, rush, gorse, broom and scrub woodland communities are special vegetation problems which adversely affect pasture production and utilization.Specific improvement techniques for the differing soil type — plant community associations are available but economic considerations are important when making the choice and deciding on the extent of improvement. Addition of lime and fertilizers, and the introduction of improved grass species and white clover, are the keys to enhanced sward production and quality. Maintenance of soil fertility is essential to ensure continued production. White clover is particularly important for animal nutrition and for its ability to contribute to available soil N via rhizobial N fixation. However, fertilizer N has a role in strategically extending the grazing season and for intensifying winter feed production (silage or hay) from suitable land; silage offers the better option.

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Herbage production from the hills and uplands

Frame¹,

Newbould²,

Munro

1985

BSAP Occas. Publ.

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An investigation of problems of sward improvement on deep peat with special reference to potassium responses and interactions with lime and phosphorus

Floate¹,

Rangeley²,

Bolton³

1981

Grass and Forage Science

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In experiments to determine the minimum fertilizer requiremetits for improved pasture oti deep peat, yields were initially low and declined rapidly. Within 2 years persistence of sown species was poor when only 2-5 t lime ha~' was applied. Analytical data suggested that K deficiency and low soil pH were contributory factors. When K was omitted from a composite nutrient solution, clover yield was reduced by 50% when 2-5 t lime ha^' was applied but was not significantly reduced with 50 1 lime. Clover alone produced iittle response to either P or K separately, but highly significant positive interactions were recorded. Clover, but not ryegrass, responded to K topdressing in field cut-herbage experiments. There was a 3-fold increase in ryegrass yield with combined P and K topdressing under grazing; 10 times more N and K were recycled in urine on this treatment than on the control.It was concluded that at least 5 01 lime, 60 kg P and 80 kg K ha"' are required for pasture establishment and that soil pH should be maintained above 5 0 to minimize K requirements. The significance of nutrient cycling and of lime X K and P x K interactions is discussed in relation to the persistence of sown species and the maintenance of improved swards on deep peat.

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Potential pasture production in the uplands of Wales

Davies

Munro

Morgan

1984

Grass and Forage Science

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Only a very limited number of species, including red fescue (Fesluca rubra). perennial ryegrass {Lolium perenne), timothy (Phleum pratense) and white clover {Trifolium repens) are considered as suitable for wet hill land. Detailed comparison of red fescue, perennial ryegrass and timothy on contrasting acid brown earth and stagnogley soils from 1966 to 1969 at Pant-y-dwr Hill Centre (305 m OD) highlighted the advantages of red fescue in annual DM production and its more even distribution over a longer growing season but also indicated drawbacks of stow initial establishment and lower feed quality. In vitro DOMD of red fescue averaged 645 g kg ' over the year compared with 690 g kg"' for perennial ryegrass and timothy-Assessment of a narrow range of species under surface seeding conditions on a stagnogley soil from 1971 to 1975 confirmed the value of red fescue in DM production and persistence. The results are discussed in relation to the characteristics required in herbage species for hill land improvement.

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Grassland Research on Blanket Peat in Ireland

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

Herbage production from the hills and uplands

Herbage production from the hills and uplands

An investigation of problems of sward improvement on deep peat with special reference to potassium responses and interactions with lime and phosphorus

Potential pasture production in the uplands of Wales

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