The implications of controlling grazed sward height for the operation and productivity of upland sheep systems in the UK: 6. The effect of reducing stocking rate and application of fertilizer nitrogen in Wales

Abstract

The implications for the agricultural productivity of the UK upland sheep systems of reducing nitrogen fertilizer application and lowering stocking rates on perennial ryegrass/white clover swards were studied over 4 years at a site in Wales. The system involved grazing ewes and lambs from birth to weaning on swards maintained at a constant height with surplus herbage made into silage, thereafter ewes and weaned lambs grazed on separate areas until the onset of winter with adjustments to the size of the areas grazed and utilizing surplus pasture areas for silage. Four stocking rates [SR 18, 15, 12 and 9 ewes ha−1 on the total area (grazed and ensiled)] and two levels of annual nitrogen fertilizer application (N 200 and 50 kg ha−1) were studied in five treatments (N200/SR18, N200/SR15, N50/SR15, N50/SR12 and N50/SR9). Average white clover content was negatively correlated with the level of annual nitrogen fertilizer application. White clover content of the swards was maintained over the duration of the experiment with an increasing proportion of clover in the swards receiving 50 kg N ha−1. Control of sward height and the contribution from white clover resulted in similar levels of lamb liveweight gain from birth to weaning in all treatments but fewer lambs reached the slaughter live weight by September at the higher stocking rates and with the lower level of fertilizer application. Three of the five treatments provided adequate winter fodder as silage (N200/SR15, N50/SR12 and N50/SR9). Because of the failure to make adequate winter fodder and the failure of white clover to fully compensate for reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application, it is concluded that nitrogen fertilizer can only be reduced on upland sheep pastures if accompanied by reduced stocking rates.

Long‐term effects on sward composition and animal performance of reducing fertilizer inputs to upland permanent pasture

“…While a separate series of experiments explored various interactive effects of level of N fertilizer, stocking rate and genotype of stock on productivity from upland permanent pasture (Maxwell et al. , 1997, 1998; Sibbald et al. , 2002, 2003), the novelty of the experimental approach reported here was that it dealt with a cessation, rather than a reduction, in inputs to grazed swards, and considered the role of nutrients other than N.…”