Chapter 19 - Sowing And Reseeding Grassland Flashcards
What are the five reasons for reseeding grassland
⭕️Weed infestation ⭕️Low ryegrass content/high content poor grass quality ⭕️Addition of clover ⭕️Animal activity ⭕️Poor soil fertility
What are the benefits of reseeding
Improves grass quality
Improves silage quality
Increased meat and milk production
Better response to nitrogen fertiliser
What is direct sowing
When land is ploughed and harrowed Seed is down with a seed drill or broadcast on soil Nitrogen fertiliser is applied in spring Autumn-sown leys are sown in September Spring-sown leys are sown before May
What is under sowing
Grass seed is sown with another tillage crop
When tillage crop is harvested grass established itself into the fields
Only suitable for spring-sown leys
Provides good ground cover and prevents weed infestation
Competition from the two crops reduces the yield of the main crop
What is minimum cultivation
The sowing of a crop without ploughing the land. It mainly involves shallow cultivation and application of herbicides
What is direct drilling
A slit is made in the ground by a direct drilling machine and the seed is dropped into it
The land is not ploughed but grazed bare
Herbicides used to kill off broadness weeds
Useful on shallow soils that cannot be ploughed
What is slit seeding
Similar to direct drilling where grass is sown into a slit in the land but the grassland is not killed off beforehand
This should be carried out in spring to ensure that the new grass has the optimum Chance of establishment . Can be carried out on soils unsuitable for ploughing and helps improve old grassland
How can a firm seedbed be created
Take soil samples from the field in a W pattern and check for compaction
If compacted sub-soiling might be necessary
Test soil for N P K and PH - fertilise and lime where appropriate
Ensure suitable drainage in place in wet soils
Old pasture spray weeds with herbicide and kill of swords with glyphosate
Pligh and sub-soil where necessary create a fine seedbed by harrowing and rolling the soil
What are 3 advantages under sowing
Nitrogen leaching can be prevented since grass will take up excess nitrogen after cereal harvest
Grassland can be used for grazing after the cereal is harvested
Soil erosion can be prevented since grass is established after the cereal harvest
What are 3 disadvantages of under sowing
Since two crops are growing simultaneously they are in competition for water nutrients and space
Herbicides use must be restricted if clover is sown with the grass seed
Under sowing is not suitable to intensive cereal farming where high crop yields are required
What are 3 advantages of slit seeding
No need to plough the land
Land has not been taken out of use for a prolonged period of time
Increased production levels quality and yields of grass
