The benefits of sward renewal

Philip Creightonl, Michael ODonovan2 and Laurence Shaone hundred ten02 Grassland Science Research Department animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre Teagasc Athenry and Moorepark2 accession Grassland in Ireland including rough range accounts for everyplace 90% of agricultural land use. genus Lolium perenne (Perennial ryegrass) is by far the most widely sown grass species accounting for over 95% of forage grass informant sold each year. It produces a involved sward, highly acceptable to livestock with the mightiness to produce high dry atter yields, especially in start and autumn bring down the seasonality of production.Achieving near(a) performance from grass is drug-addicted on having high quality deathless ryegrass/clover swards. This paper willing outline the important aspects of seeding pasture, whats occurrence at farm level, why and when reseeding should be completed, its benefits and costs. What is happening at farm level? A recent survey of a equali ser of co-op suppliers from Kerry, Connaught Gold and Glanbia (Creighton et al. , 2011) found a number of signifi discharget findings from a eseeding perspective, these argon listed below. i. v. x.Regular reseeding took place on 50% of participants farms, 25% reseed infrequently, 25% never reseed. Of those reseeding, 50% of participants reseed 2-4ha/year, 20% 8. 0 flaw K Index 2 3 4 Soil K ranges (mg/ 0-50 51-100 101- one hundred fifty 150 K application rate (kg/ha) 110 75 50 Slurry is a good option to maintain nutrient status. With the increase cost of compounds (P and K) slurry should be used in reseeding, 1000 gallons of slurry at 7% DM is equivalent to 4kg N, 3kg P and 19. 5kg K. At deformity index 3, slurry (3000gals/ac) is sufficient to supply the P and K nutrients.Weed control The best cartridge holder to control docks and all other weeds is after reseeding. By using a rate emergence spray seedling weeds sess be destroyed before they properly develop and establish s ubject stocks. Established weeds can severely reduce the yield potential and sparing lifetime of the reseeded sward. From the survey information it is draw in that only 50% of farmers ar applying a post emergence spray, resulting in over 90% of surveyed farms having problems with dock infestations.To ensure that a post emergence spray can be use reseeding should be targeted for the spring or early autumn when memorial tablet conditions are much more equal and the opportunity for weed control is guaranteed. The post emergence spray should be applied approximately 6 weeks after proof Just before the scratch line shaving takes place. With weed control it pays to be proactive, spray when grass is at the two riffle stage works well. Grazing counsel of reseeded swards Care needs to be interpreted when grazing newly reseeded swards.The sward should be razed as soon as the new grass plants roots are strong enough to withstand grazing (root stays anchored in the res publica when pulled). advance(prenominal) grazing is important to allow go down to the base of the plant to encourage tillering. unmortgaged grazing by animals such as calves, weanlings or sheep is preferred as ground conditions may still be middling fragile depending on establishment rule used. Grazing new reseeds with larger animals can create high levels of tiller pulling. The first grazing of a new reseed can be completed at pre grazing yields of 600-1000kg DM/ha. Frequent grazing of the reseeds at light covers (