Sowing and Reseeding Grassland

Sowing and Reseeding Grassland

• Reasons for Low Productivity
  Weed infestation
  Low ryegrass content - high content of poor quality grasses
  Lack of clover
  Animal activity – poaching
• Benefits of Reseeding
  1.Improves grass quality
  2.Improves silage quality
  3.Increases meat and milk production
  4.Higher output allows increased stocking density on land
  5.Better response to N fertilisers
  6.Longer grazing season reduces the need for winter fodder, reducing overall costs
  7.Excess grass as a result of increased productivity could be cut for silage and sold
• Methods of Sowing
  1.Direct sowing (very reliable)
  2.Undersowing (complicated)
  3.Direct drilling (risky)
  4.Stitching-in (very risky)
• Direct sowing
  Sow in spring or autumn.
  Prepare a fine seedbed by ploughing and harrowing.
  Broadcast fertiliser (based on soil test results) and work into soil.
  Drill seed in 10cm drills at 2cm deep or broadcast and cover using chain harrow.
  Roll after sowing to give good soil/seed contact (supplies water and nutrients).
• Undersowing
  Used when sowing grass as part of a tillage rotation.
  Sow grass and spring cereal at the same time and allow both crops grow at same time.
  Grassland establishment begins when cereal crop is harvested.
  Must change the management of the cereal crop because of the presence of grass.
  May be competition between both crops.
• Direct Drilling
  Drill seeds into unploughed ground (stubble or existing grassland).
  Graze down existing grass sward and kill with herbicide.
  Drill in new grass, fertiliser and slug pellets.
  May be difficult for grass to establish.
  Used on shallow soils or heavy (wet) soils.
  Does not damage the structure of the soil.
• Stitching-in
  Always used on grassland.
  Exactly the same as direct drilling except existing sward is not killed with herbicide but grazed down heavily.
  Also used on soils that are difficult to plough or subject to poaching.
  May be very difficult for new grass to establish because of competition from old sward.
• Grassland Establishment
  Grassland establishment is the progression from newly emerged grass seedlings to thick, closely knit grassland.
  Very important because the development of roots help support animals and machinery.
  Most important factor is tillering.
  Best way to encourage tillering is to damage the main shoot of the grass plant by grazing or topping.
  In the beginning graze with light stock, such as calves or sheep, that will not damage the field.
• Weed Control
  Best way to control annual weeds is to encourage tillering of grass by grazing and/or topping.
  This will also help to control perennial weeds but the use of selective herbicides may also be necessary.
   Essential to encourage grass growth by maintaining a high level of soil fertility.