Goodness gracious, grasslands!
As we are all aware, the circle of agriculture keeps coming back around and quickly conversations of the importance of grassland is becoming predominant once again.
Olivia Bye
Reading time: 12 minutes
grassland is becoming predominant once again.
Although, as much as we’d like to believe that grass just looks after itself, as many things in this industry – it’s not that easy. With a particular focus on herbal grasses for improving soil, diversity for livestock health and claiming on environment schemes, despite them being for the most part, a temporary structure, they still need nurturing (and re-seeding!). Just like any cereal crop, extra inputs can see you reaping more benefits to push it along. As a dairy farmer, naturally, the price of milk has been on my mind a lot recently, so being able to provide a protein and calorie tense pasture translating into better production, as well as higher butter fats, has also quickly become a priority with tired ground. Better forage will naturally produce better animals.
It starts from day one…
Providing for animals through correct nutrition starts from picking the right seed. Diploid plants usually experience more tillering, meaning more competitive against grasses, and therefore create a denser covering for protection of underlying species as well as soil cover.
Better soil structure, increases in soil organic matter, and increased soil fertility are amongst the physical benefits of a herbal ley. With species such as chicory, sain foin ,and birdsfoot trefoil provide a natural source of parasite control in the grazing animals. The longer rooting species typically included in a herbal ley will be better scavengers and safeguard against adverse weather.
Image above shows the result of Aiva’s recent approach to herbal grasses.
Source: Mulders Chart: Nutrient Interactions – NutriAg
How do you know what you need?
Aiva’s motto is nutrition is placed, and that can only be shown by season long testing.
The three-prong approach to testing should be considered before implementing any new products into a regime to ensure that it’s needed. Even when you think you’re doing the right thing, too much of a good thing can cause problems when it comes to the different antagonist relationships.
The chart pictured describes the interactions, both stimulation and antagonists, of tipping the balances of nutrients in a plant’s environment. To pick an example, too much nitrogen decreases potassium, copper, and boron which in turn decreases another abundance of nutrients and before you know it you’re worse off than when you started.
The prong approach of testing refers to soil, tissue and sap. each is worth the time, but some are better suited to different situations. Simply, the soil is what could be available, tissue represents what was previously available in the plant to get it to the point of testing, and the sap (or brix levels) shows what is being utilised by the plant. Sap testing, using a refractometer, is the method of testing brix levels in a plant which indicates the level of sugars. Brix nutrients include boron, calcium, phosphate, silicon and magnesium. Grassland should be about 12 on the scale and no more than 15.
Recent Aiva approach to herbal grasses
We’ve had success this year with implementing three products into what previously wasn’t a productive grassland. The products included:
Citadel
our carbon-based fertiliser with humic acids to improve proteins and glutamates as well as providing carbon for soil activities including CEC.
Trinity
18 nitrogen, 4 sulphur, 4 magnesium complex for pushing the grass through growth stages while the sulphur and magnesium ensures effective and efficient utilisation of the nitrogen
Rally
A trace element mix designed for livestock health with selenium and iodine.
This isn’t to say these are the only things you can do, but on this particular farm this combination, carefully placed and introduced slowly certainly has made the world of difference and for now we will keep integrating different products depending on need.
If you’re an AIVA regular you might have seen our crib sheet for a systems approach, below. The same approach is just as relevant to grassland, perhaps without the need for a silicon but the thought process remains the same.
Treat grass like a cereal crop and it will perform just as well.
What Do you Think?
Could this approach work for you? At AIVA, we may not have all the answers, but we are good at asking the right questions. Your system is unique, and we’re here to help you find the best solutions. Reach out to one of our consultants today to discuss how our products can benefit your farm.
