Pasture research in the UK: Present knowledge and future prospects

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Abstract
Pasture research in the UK has increasingly been aimed at understanding the mechanisms that underlie pasture plant responses to different managements. The need to develop agricultural systems that are both sustainable and economically viable has strengthened interest in reliable animal production from pasture and has emphasised the need to understand how white clover can best be maintained in the grazed sward. Breeders are focusing on meeting the nutritional requirements of the grazing animal and are enjoying increasing success in incorporating new genetic material from plant collections into varieties of grass and clover which are better able to withstand environmental stresses. Economic and environmental considerations have stimulated interest in gaining further insights into the nature of (and the reasons for) the species changes which follow reductions in fertiliser inputs and stocking rates. The possibility of harnessing the preferences of different grazing animals to influence vegetational change is being explored. Soil microbiology and nutrient availability in soils (and their influence on future productive capacity) are also influenced by reduced inputs and are subjects attracting increased interest. This paper discusses current understanding of these topics in the UK and identifies some specific problems that require further study. Key words: Clover, grass, grazing, pasture composition, plant breeding

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