This years tricky harvest and a drop in cereal prices are encouraging a return of land to grassland from wheat – and experts are advising that current warm and moist conditions provide the perfect opportunity to restore clover rich swards.
Ian Misselbrook of Advanta Seeds comments that more difficult harvest conditions this year are leading to poor quality wheat and prices are down, so many farmers will be looking to re-establish grassland. "As fertiliser prices continue to soar, it is vital to include high clover grass leys to keep costs down," he says.
Clover has the ability to fix nitrogen at the equivalent of 200kg nitrogen per hectare per year, so could bring huge savings on fertiliser inputs. With nitrogen fertiliser now priced at around £370 per tonne (34.5% N) the actual nitrogen value of clover in the ley is worth around £220 per hectare per year.
Ian notes that the soil this autumn is warm and moist and after fairly stable conditions throughout the year, providing a good opportunity for establishing mixtures. "The ideal time to reseed is while air temperatures remain above 15°C, which for the most of the UK lasts until late September." However, Ian adds that northerly parts of the country see temperatures decrease a little earlier.
He advises that the best method to establish clover is to drill it with grass. "Sowing grass and clover in one operation not only saves time, but also reduces further costs like the diesel for making a second pass," notes Ian. He recommends establishing at least 160 clover seedlings per square metre for best results.
Yet according to a recent Grassland Performance survey of over 500 dairy farmers carried out by crop protection firm UPL earlier this year, almost 20% opt to slot seed clover after grass to avoid herbicide damage.
Problematic weeds like chickweed should not be overlooked - a single chickweed plant can grow to huge proportions and is particularly damaging during the vulnerable establishment phases, but it need not be a threat.
Clover-safe herbicides, like Alistell from UPLs Clovercare range, can be applied early enough to control weeds and will not damage vulnerable clover in new leys. Therefore it is not necessary to omit clover seed from grass seed mixtures until herbicides have been applied.
