Pastures and Forages

what is grassland?

a community of plants, including grasses and forbs

what roles can grassland have?

agricultural, amenity, recreation, wildlife, wildlife conservation and environmental roles

what is climax vegetation?

usually forests

what has formed most of our pastures in the UK?

• clearing forests,

• cultivation,

• grazing,

• cutting

what are the 3 main categories of grassland?

temporary and permanent grass, and rough grazing.

what’s the % of total grassland with grass under 5 years old in 2010 and 2024?

9.9%

10.8%

what’s the % of total grassland with grass 5 years and older in the UK in 2010 and 2024?

47.6%

49.5%

what’s the % of total grassland with semi-natural rough grazing in the UK in 2010 and 2024?

42.5%

39.7%

what measures are there to protect the environment and encourage biodiversity?

• pasture improvement,

• stocking levels,

• fertiliser/manure use,

what does grassland reflect?

• rainfall,

• temperature,

• soil,

what % of land area is grassland in East Anglia?

<25%

what % of land area is grassland in Wales, NW England, N and W Scotland?

>90%

what types of grass in present in lowland areas?

ryegrass and bent

what are some examples of grass species on upland/hill areas?

bent, fescue and bracken

in the 1930s, what % of lowland permanent pasture had more than or equal to 15% ryegrass?

<10%

in the 1980s, what % of lowland permanent pasture contained more than or equal to 15% ryegrass?

>70%

what influences the type of grassland found on a farm?

growing conditions,

management - grazing, cutting, fertiliser/manure use, grassland ‘improvement’.

what is ley farming?

a rotation of crops with a grass ‘ley’ of 2-5 years duration.

it’s a balanced system to safeguard soil fertility, pest/disease and weed control.

what has led to a greater reliance in long-term/permanent grassland?

the availability of fertilisers, herbicides, and better grassland management, as well as the move away from mixed farming.

How many days per year can grass be grown?

200-365 days of growth per year

How much grass can be grown per year?

up to 25 tonnes dry matter/ha

what is the more realistic upper target in practice even under intensive management?

10-15 tonnes dry matter/ha

what’s the UK average of grass grown per year?

7.0-7.5 tonnes dry matter/ha

what 6 factors affect grassland production?

1. the site itself,

2. choice of system/stocking levels,

3. creation/maintenance of pastures,

4. fertiliser and manure use,

5. efficiency of utilisation (grazed/conserved),

6. the mentality of the farmer/manager.

what happened to the output of lamb and beef from the 1940s - 1980s?

doubled

what happened to the output of milk from the 1940s - 1980s?

trebled

what are we attempting to do when managing grassland?

• optimise production from grass,

• optimise profit,

• minimise risks of pollution/environmental damage