South‐west England grassland survey 1983

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Abstract
A survey of grassland on 127 farms in south‐west England was conducted in order to investigate the cutting and grazing management of grassland, botanical composition and the use of fertilizer N, and to quantify recent trends in reseeding and the age structure of swards. Twenty‐six percent of the grassland surveyed was classified as arable grassland (in rotation with crops) and 74% as permanent grassland. Only 37% of the established grassland on dairy farms was aged over 20 years compared with 53% on livestock farms. Mowing was practised on 52% of the grassland, two‐thirds of it every year, and virtually all grassland was grazed for part of the year. The average fertilizer N input was 168 kg ha−1with considerable variation with sward age (average 113 kg ha−1for over‐20‐year‐old swards) and between dairy farms (average 217 kg ha−1) and livestock farms (100 kg ha−1)‐ The average proportion of sown species (mainlyLolium perenne)ranged from 90% in young swards to 36% in swards aged over 20 years, with considerable variation within age groups.L. perennewas associated with high inputs of fertilizer N, good drainage, sheep grazing and organic manures, e.g. among swards aged over 20 years it contributed 38% on average where >250 kg N ha−1were applied, but only 12% where no fertilizer N was applied. A continuous network ofTrifolium repensoccurred in 27% of the grassland–this was associated with low inputs of fertilizer N, good drainage and sheep grazing.Agrostisspp. were the most abundant unsown species andCirsium arvense, Ranunculusspp. andRumexspp. the most common broad‐leaved weeds. Features of the sample are compared with those in the south‐west England region and in England and Wales as a whole.

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