The Yield, Botanical and Chemical Composition of Natural Hill Herbage Under Manuring, Controlled Grazing and Hay Conditions

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Abstract
The results of this investigation over a period of 14 yrs. indicate the degree to which natural hill pastures can be increased in yield and altered in botanical comp. by controlling grazing and applying lime with fertilizers or lime alone, while the chem. analysis of the herbage and soil show equally great improvement. The establishment and growth of volunteer lowland grasses and wild white clover (Trifolium repens) have greatly increased productivity and nutritive value, but these spp. would not have succeeded without the application of lime and/or fertilizers. Their success was also dependent on grazing for while these spp. contributed to pasture yields 6 yrs. after the beginning of the exp., the hay remained native in character until the 14th yr. or longer. The produce of the grazed plots was found to yield 2 X the crude protein obtainable from the hay plots.