Lecture 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What does grassland refer to?

A

Refers to a plant community in which grasses (graminaea) are usually the dominant species, with forbs present in variable amounts, but trees and shrubs are absent or only present in minor constituents

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2
Q

What does grassland include: (3)

A

1-Pasture
2-Rangeland
3-Cover crops
All plant communities that animals are fed.

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3
Q

Definition: Pasture

A

An area of land in which grass or other plants are grown for the feeding of grazing animals

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4
Q

Definition: Forage

A

Edible parts of plants other than separated grain, that provide feed for animals or can be harvested for feeding

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5
Q

Definition: Herbage

A

The biomass of herbaceous plants. The term generally refers to edible plant parts other than grain

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6
Q

Definition: Biomass

A

The weight of living organisms (plants or animals) in an ecosystem at a given point in time expressed as either fresh or dry weight.

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7
Q

List the 3 different types of grassland:

A

1-Leys
2-Perminant pasture
3-Rough grazing

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8
Q

Talk about leys:

A

2 types:

-Short term ley (1-2 years) silage production. Containing IRG/HR/RC suitable to this type of production

-Medium term leys (3+years) grazing rotation containing PRG/WC/Timothy/Cocksfoot

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9
Q

Definition: Permanent Pasture

A

-Land that has been under grass for at least 5 yrs and hasn’t been ploughed foe other crops in that time
(Semi natural, Improved grassland)

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10
Q

Definition: Rough Grazing

A

-Includes commonage, areas that is unfenced and has low levels of inputs and management.
-Usually in hilly/upland area and often grazed by sheep

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11
Q

What is an example of a grassland Ley in UCD Lyons farm:

A

-Red clover/hybrid ryegrass
-Tetraploid PRG
-Italian RG and Red clover

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12
Q

What is a Ley?
-How long is it for?

A

-Grass legume sward sown as part of a pre designed rotation of crops with an intention being to plough it up again after a pre determined number of years.

-Remains a ley as long as the species of grasses and clover which it contains are directly attributable to the seeds that were initially sown

-Any duration, Pre-designed crop rotation system, ultimately intended to be ploughed up

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13
Q

1-When did ley farming become popular?
2-What sort of sequence is a regular rotation for leys to be part of?
3-List Managerial and technical advantages to leys?
4-What is one really beneficial thing that you gain from Leys?

A

1-Around 2nd WW, following a period of agricultural depression, continuous tillage -soil structure and productivity

2-Grass rotated with cereal or root crops in a regular sequence

3-Soil fertility, weed, pest and disease control

4-Organic matter (soil structure- compaction/earthworms)

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14
Q

What has led to a decline in ley farming?

A decline in ley farming has led to what?

A

Intensified cropping systems:
-Cheaper source if fertiliser= reduced need fir crop rotation

-Herbicides and pesticides become readily available
-Still has an important role to play in organic farming (atmospheric N)

-Decline in ley farming has led to an increase in specialisation (Continuous cropping or permanent grassland)

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15
Q

What is the role of grassland leys in the future?

A

Ley pastures provide a large set of inputs:
(soil conservation, nutrient provision and recycling, soil water retention, biological control pests)
and outputs:
(water purification, climate, reduction, habitat provision, biodiversity conservation, forage production)
ecosystem services of primary importance.

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16
Q

Definition: Permanent pasture

A

Land that has not been included in the crop-rotation of a holding of 5 years of more

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17
Q

What must Ireland ensure when it comes to permanent grassland?

A

Total Agricultural land area should be maintained and that this ratio shall not be decreased by >5% versus 2012 (Green Direct Payment)

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18
Q

What sort of land has no obligations to implement the 3 greening measures?

A

Holdings where >75% of the eligible agricultural area is permanent grassland or is used for the production of grasses or other herbaceous forage have no further obligations to implement the 3 greening measures

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19
Q

What are 3 greening measures:

A

1-Crop diversification
2-Protection of permanent grassland
3-Protection of environmentally sensitive areas

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20
Q

What are semi natural grasslands?

A

They have been altered by human agricultural or pastoral activity, generally grazing or mowing , but without the input of fertilisers or reseeding with high - yielding species such as Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens

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21
Q

Name the 5 permanent grassland things :

A

1-Types of grasses
2-Perennial Ryegrass
3-Categories of Ryegrass
4-Variety testing
5-Pasture profit index
6-National Recommended List

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22
Q

List 5 common sown grasses:

A

1- Perennial ryegrass
2-Italian ryegrass
3-Cocksfoot
4-Timothy
5-Meadow fescue

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23
Q

Perennial Ryegrass Characteristics:(5)

A

1-Dark green tufted plant
2-Leaves are flat, smooth, glossy
3-Fibrous roots
4-Inflorescence, narrow spike with flattened spikelet’s containing 8- 12 florets
5-Yellow/violet anthers

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24
Q

-What is the most common grass species in Ireland?
-Why is this the most common grass?
-What % of all seeds is this grass?

A

-Perennial Ryegrass
-Temperate climate
-95% of all seed sales are PRG

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25
Q

What are the limitations to PRG?

A

-Nutrient-hungry grass: requires nutrients to produce tonnage grass
-Not tolerant of drought, heat stress or low fertility: no deep rooting if nutrients are not on the top layer of the soil

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26
Q

What are the advantages of PRG? (7)

A

1-Rapid early growth for spring calving
2-High yield of quality forage
3-Productive on well-drained soils – 15/16 tonnes/ha
4-Suited to rotational grazing
5-Palatable
6-Tolerates trampling
7-Target 60% sward PRG: if <60% then reseed required

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27
Q

What is the Characteristics of Italian Ryegrass? (8)

A

1-Tufted plant
2-Annual or biennial
3-Taller than PRG
4-Leaves 2x that PRG
5-Fibrous roots
6-Upright stems
7-Long narrow larger spike inflorescence with awned spikelet’s
8-Yellow/grey-violet anthers

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28
Q

List limitations to IRG: (2)

A

1-Not winter hardy
2-Only lasts c.3 years
Not as persistent as PRG – not well suited to a grazing sward. Very steamy

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29
Q

Whats the advantages of IRG: (5)

A

1-Will tolerate low fertility and poor drainage but not drought
2-Similar nutritive value to PRG
3-Higher yield – 17-tonne yield
4-Popular for silage sward

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30
Q

What a grass that’s much less common today?

A

Cocksfoot
Orchard grass

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31
Q

List Characteristics of Cocksfoot: (4)

A

1-Dense tussocks up to 1m high
2-Broad flat leaf with a smooth surface
3-Duller green than PRG
4-Inflorescence is a panicle

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32
Q

What are advantages of cocksfoot? (5)

A

1-Deep root system
2-Drought tolerant
3-Palatable
4-High yielding
5-Responds well to fertiliser Intolerant of wet conditions and tight grazing’s
*( 4cm post grazing cover – pressure for regrowth)

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33
Q

Whats a limitation to cocksfoot?

A

Lower nutrient value

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34
Q

Whats 4 Characteristics to timothy?

A

1-Found in seed mixtures for heavier more challenging soil types (e.g. peat).
2-Horse mixtures – higher fibre and lower energy
3-Smooth stemmed grass
4-Short broad greyish-green leaves Inflorescence true spike

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35
Q

Whats the advantages to timothy ? (6)

A

1-Deep root system
2-Tolerates lower pH and extremes of heat and cold
3-75% the production of other grasses
4-Winter hardy
5-Early season growth
6-High yield

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36
Q

What is limitations to timothy?(4)

A

1-Low tiller density
2-Short-lived perennial
3-Lower digestibility for ruminants – low WSC – Water soluble carbohydrate – energy
4-Less palatable – animals graze around it

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37
Q

Name a not very common grass type?

A

Meadow Fescue

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38
Q

List advantages to Meadow Fescue: (4)

A

1-Persistent grass
2-Suited to poorer fertility soil – demand not there for establishment
3-Winter hardy
4-Wide leaves produce high-quality hay

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39
Q

List Limitations to Meadow Fescue: (2)

A

1-Slower to establish than PRG
2-Does not respond well to chemical N

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40
Q

In the reproductive stages of all PRG, IRG, Cocksfoot, Timothy and Meadows fescue, what is distinctive:

A

-Distinctive seed head

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41
Q

How many volunteer grasses are there in Ireland?

A

-100 species in Ireland
-60 common or locally abundant

42
Q

Where are volunteer grasses present?

A

Grasslands
Amenity areas
Hedgerows
Woodlands

43
Q

List 3 volunteer grasses:

A

Meadow grasses (Poa spp.)
Bent grasses (Agrostis spp.)
Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus)

44
Q

What’s the Issue with Volunteer grasses:*

A

Issue = Lower growth rate, lower feeding value and they don’t respond as well to chemical or organic fertilizers

-Decrease in PRG availability
-Ensure 65% of the sward is PRG or else lower growth rate and feeding value

45
Q

Talk about Yorkshire Fog: (4)

A

1-High production potential
2-Less palatable
3-The leafy stage has good digestibility and mineral concentrations – a challenge to keep it at the leafy stage
4-Prone to water damage

46
Q

Talk about Creeping Bent grass: (4)

A

1-Adapted to environments of low production potential
2-Low digestibility
3-High CP
4-Drought resistance

47
Q

Talk about Perennial Ryegrass: (8)

A

1-Rapid establishment after reseeding and grazing
2-Good tillering – production of the secondary plant off the primary plant
3-Excellent production response to fertiliser N
4-Highly acceptable to stock - palatable
5-High DM yields and good digestibility.
6-Tolerant to intensive grazing/cutting and regrows quickly after defoliation
7-Does not grow well under drought conditions, hot weather or infertile soils
8-Freely tillering *

48
Q

What is freely tillering?

A

How plant reproduces itself, 70,000 tillers/m2 when sheep graze

49
Q

Why does tiller density change?

A

Its high in grazing and is lower in a cutting regime

50
Q

Perennial ryegrass characteristics: (6)

A
  • Sensitive to intense frost and high temperatures
  • Quite sensitive to shade
  • Sensitive to drought and winter flooding
  • Optimum on nutrient-rich soils and slightly acid to neutral
  • Dry or wet soils are not suitable
  • Sands can be suitable if the water supply and the nutrient availability are sufficient
51
Q

PRG structure:
In spring
In autumn

A

3 leaves per tiller - 3 leaf grazing
In spring, first leaves a relatively small increase in size until the maximum reached
In autumn, the opposite evolution is observed

52
Q

Vegetative PRG:
-how many leaf tiller
-How many leaves produced
-oldest leaf….

A

-3 leaf tiller
-4 leaves produced
-1st leaf died, oldest green leaf turns yellow and dies

53
Q

Whats the advantages of PRG: (3)

A

-Growing point
-New leaves/vegetation produced
-Low to ground under 4cm residual

54
Q

Name the 2 types of IRG:
And explain them:

A

1-Westerworlds
Annual and plants die after seed formation

2-Multiflorum
Short lived perennial

55
Q

Explain the live of IRG the 2 types and the challenges involves in them:

A

-Lasts 2-3 years
-Winter active
-Early season growth
-Difficult to manage mid season

56
Q

What is hybrid ryegrass:

A

Italian x perennial ryegrass

57
Q

Whats the appearance of Hybrid ryegrass:

A

Appearance reflect one parental type
-Out of season growth IRG
-Sward density PRG
-More persistent than IRG

58
Q

Whats the hugest % of grass seed sales?

A

-Over 95% PRG
-PRG, IRG, WC account for nearly all of the agricultural grass/clover seed sold in Ireland

59
Q

Name the 3 main categories of PRG , varying according to their heading date:

A

-Early
-Intermediate
-Late
Diploid vs tetraploid

60
Q

Definition: Heading Date
Whats the 3 categories ?

A

Approximate date around which 50% of reproductive tillers will produce seeds
Three categories:
1-Early
2-Interimediate
3-Late

61
Q

When is Early heading date?

A
  • Heads in the first half of May
    – Early spring grazing in March and April
    – Boosts first cut silage
    – Harvested by the 3rd week of May
    – Stemmy regrowth in early summer can be a problem
    – Use of this group has declined
62
Q

When is Intermediate heading date and what % is it?

A

-16%
* Head in the second half of May
– Produce high quality silage cuts
– Late May and mid-July
– Do not bulk up as soon as earlies but overall silage yields are good
– Suited to a broad range of management systems
– Spring growth has improved as has ground cover (sward density)

63
Q

When is late heading date and what % is it?

A

-84%
* Head in the first half of June
– High tiller density/good ground cover
– Well suited to long term grazing pastures
– Good quality silage cuts in early June and late July
– Leafy mid summer and have good autumn growth
– Spring growth not as good as Intermediates
– Very persistent

64
Q

What are the most popular heading dates?

A

-Intermediate
-Late

65
Q

What does grass ploidy refer to?
Name the different ploidies?

A

1-The number of chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell
2-Diploid and Tetraploid

66
Q

Definition: Diploid

A

High tiller density prostrate growth habit smaller leaves

67
Q

Definition: Tetraploid

A

Low tiller density erect growth habit large dark leaves greater leaf area

68
Q

Tetraploid vs Diploid (5)

A

1- Larger seed size
2-Higher WSC , palatability and drought tolerance
3-Lower tiller densities vs diploids
-Lower DM%
-More prone to poaching on heavy soils- more open swards

69
Q

How many sets of chromosomes does Diploid have and Tetraploid have?

A

Diploid= 2
Tetraploid=4 (Larger cell size and higher ratio of cell contents (soluble carbohydrates): cell wall (fibre)

70
Q

What is higher yielding diploid or tetraploid?

A

Tetraploid

71
Q

Diploid vs Tetraploid in DMD:

A

Diploid: Slightly lower DMD
Tetraploid: High DMD= more palatable= greater intakes

72
Q

Diploid vs Tetraploid in DM%

A

Diploid: Higher DM content (%DM)
Tetraploid: Lower DM%

73
Q

Diploid vs Tetraploid Density:

A

Diploid: More densely tillered
Tetraploid: More open- more susceptible to poaching

74
Q

Whats the benefits to tetraploid only mixtures:(5)

A

-Increased palatability driving higher intakes
-High-quality grasses giving superior animal performance
-Excellent sward utilization
-Suited to overseeding to repair damaged swards
-Rapid establishment

75
Q

In lyons systems grazing block in 2022 what was the best paddock and what tonnes DM/Ha in it?

A

Tetraploid only mix
17.8 tonnes DM/ha

76
Q

1-Who carries out variety testing:
2-What is produced:

A

1-Carried out by the Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine
2-Produces a list of national recommended varieties each year
-Each variety is assessed against control varieties within their own maturity group under standard conditions over a minimum of 2 separate sowings.

77
Q

What is important to note with Varity testing:

A

Official catalogues must be drawn up in
accordance with uniform rules so that the
varieties accepted will be distinct, stable and
sufficiently uniform (DUS) and that they will
be of satisfactory value for cultivation and use
(VCU)

78
Q

For a variety to make the National list it must be **% better than existing varieties:

A

50%

79
Q

What does DUS stand for?

A

-Distinct
Uniform (sufficiently)
Stable

80
Q

Name the 5 variety testing stations:

A

1-Backweston Farm, Leixlip, Co. Kildare (HQ)
2-Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork
3-Raphoe, Co. Donegal
4-Athenry, Co. Galway
5-Kildalton, Co. Kilkenny

81
Q

1-How are varieties of PRG tested?
2-When are they sown?
3-How many kg N/Ha is applied?
4-What’s the general Purpose?

A

1-Tested against controls within their own maturity groups
i.e. new early heading varieties are tested with NRL early varieties

2-Ryegrasses are sown in May and assessed over the following two-year period

3- 350kg N/Ha

4- General purpose/ 6-cut system: 1 spring grazing + 2 silage cuts + 3 grazing
* Frequent cutting/Simulated grazing/ 8-10 cut system: 8-10 grazings (rotational grazing practice)

82
Q

What’s the assessment criteria for PRG varieties? (8)

A

1* Heading date
2* Total yield
3* Ground cover score/ sward density
4* Spring growth (approx. mid April)
5* Autumn growth (mid August onwards)
6* WSC, DMD
7* 1st cut & 2nd cut silage in General Purpose evaluations
8* Summer yield in Frequent Cutting evaluations (mid April
to mid August)

83
Q

DAFM Frequent Cutting Protocol:
Spring Yield: 1 or 2 cuts:

A

before 15th April

84
Q

DAFM Frequent Cutting Protocol:
Summer Yield: 4 or 5 cuts:

A

15th April- 15th August

85
Q

DAFM Frequent Cutting Protocol:
Autumn Yield: 2 or 3 cuts:

A

15th August - 15th October

86
Q

How long does it take to approve a grass variety?

A

12 years

87
Q

What does the PPI sub indices do?

A

Pasture Profit Index: Puts an economic figure to grass varieties

88
Q

DAFM Irish Recommended List 2024
Top 3 performing :

A

Galgorm-D
Aberspey-T
Aberclyde-T

89
Q

What are sub indexes in the DAFM Irish recommended list : (8)

A

PPI- Pasture Profit Index
Spring growth
Summer growth
Autumn growth
Quality
Silage
Persist
-Teagasc Grazing Utilisation

90
Q

White Clover :
1- Sown mixture with what?
2- Assessed over how long?
3- What type cut system?
4- Kg N/Ha applied in spring?

A

1- Late perennial rye grass in May/June
2- Following establishment year they are assessed over 2 years
3- 6/7 cut system
4- 50Kg N/Ha applied in Spring

91
Q

Nutritive Value of Grazed Grass:
1-Energy
2-Protein %
3-NDF%

A

1- 0.85(Stemmy)-1.05(Lush) UFL/kg DM
2- 16-28
3- 35-50

92
Q

Value of grass:
1-Maximise energy:
2-More Leaf =
3-More stem=
4-Protein requirement for young stock and for dairy=

A

1-Maximise energy 0.85= 1UFL
2-More leaf= more energy
3-More stem increases cell wall and fibre
4-Protein requirement is 13-15% for young stock and 16-18% for dairy

93
Q

If i have 100kg of fresh grass how much kg of DM and kg of water do i have?

A

-17kg of dry material
-83kg of water

94
Q

What is the measure for cell wall fibre ?

A

NDF structural

95
Q

What is in the cell contents?

A

-Sugars
-Oil
-Protein
-Minerals
-Other

96
Q

In the 3rd new leaf what occurs?

A

Peak reserves are rebuilt

97
Q

When the 4th leaf is regrown what occurs?

A

-80% of leaf material to get value from sward
-No extra residual
-No extra reserves are stored
-Leaf 1 is dying

98
Q

From post grazing to 1st new leaf what % of yield is met?

A

15-25%

99
Q

From 1st new leaf to 2nd new leaf what % of yield is met?

A

35-40%

100
Q

From the 2nd to the 3rd new leaf what % of yield is met?

A

40-50%

101
Q

When is the perfect time to graze leaf?

A

-When 3rd new leaf is grown
-Graze at 2.5-3 new leaves when reserves are restored