Award details

Improving the reliability of unfertilised grass/clover pasture - a proposed mechanism and its test

ReferenceD08169
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Nigel Sackville-Hamilton
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Dr Ann Cresswell, Dr Lance Mytton
Institution Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
DepartmentSoil Env & Ecology Science (North Wyke)
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 179,888
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 21/01/1998
End date 21/01/2001
Duration36 months

Abstract

Grass/clover pastures can sustain sward productivity without fertiliser input, because clover replaces lost nitrogen (N) through N-fixation. However, clover content and productivity can be highly variable. Our aim is to increase understanding of the causes of clover variability. A recent model links oscillations in grass/clover varieties, differing the control of N-fixation with respect to soil N availability. These patches will be observed over a period of 2.5 years, during which soil N will be experimentally manipulated. By integrating model and experimental results, we will address how the control of N-fixation can affect grass/clover dynamics and identify ideal genotypes for increased sward productivity and stability.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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