Publication Date
1997
Description
The objective of this experiment was to study sward structure effects on production of perennial ryegrass-white clover swards with and without white clover following lax spring grazing periods of different duration. Two periods of 6 (short release - SR) and 12 (long release - LR -) weeks of lax grazing were compared against a conventional hard grazing throughout (early control - EC). Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with 3 replicates. Changes in sward structure were reflected in herbage production before (spring) and after the control period (summer-autumn). During spring, herbage mass was increased as a consequence of an increase in tiller weight. Evidence for effects on ryegrass tiller densities in summer-autumn period were inconclusive, although, tiller production appeared to be greater in release treatments than under hard grazing. It was concluded that release treatments increase herbage production by increasing both tiller population density and tiller weight.
Citation
Hernandez Garay, A; Hodgson, J; and Matthew, C, "Sward Structure Change and Production Increases Following Spring Grazing Management" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session22/3
Included in
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Sward Structure Change and Production Increases Following Spring Grazing Management
The objective of this experiment was to study sward structure effects on production of perennial ryegrass-white clover swards with and without white clover following lax spring grazing periods of different duration. Two periods of 6 (short release - SR) and 12 (long release - LR -) weeks of lax grazing were compared against a conventional hard grazing throughout (early control - EC). Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with 3 replicates. Changes in sward structure were reflected in herbage production before (spring) and after the control period (summer-autumn). During spring, herbage mass was increased as a consequence of an increase in tiller weight. Evidence for effects on ryegrass tiller densities in summer-autumn period were inconclusive, although, tiller production appeared to be greater in release treatments than under hard grazing. It was concluded that release treatments increase herbage production by increasing both tiller population density and tiller weight.
