Syllabus / Curriculum design

Topics covered include the following: area, output and types of grassland; temporary vs permanent; species, variety, seeds mixtures, methods of sowing; plant nutrient supply, particularly N, and nutrient cycling; effects of frequency, timing, severity and selectivity of defoliation on herbage yield and quality, botanical composition and sward density; treading, poaching, compaction, soil ingestion; integration of grazing and cutting; grazing methods; reasons for forage conservation and factors affecting the choice of method; silage - the process, losses, type of crop, stage of growth, manuring, harvesting, wilting, chopping, additives, types of silo; hay - the process, losses, type of crop, stage of growth, manuring, harvesting and storage, barn drying, additives; artificial drying; fractionation; mechanisation.

Aims of the module

Learning outcomes

i. Describe range and distribution of grassland

ii. Describe grass species and varieties and methods of pasture improvement

iii. Describe grass nutrient requirements

iv. Describe principles and systems of grazing

v. Describe principles and systems of conservation

Reading Lists