Factors influencing the composition and nutritive value of herbage from fescue and Molinia areas

Abstract

It has been established that the mineral deficiencies can be rectified on both the fescue dominant and Molinia dominant swards of mid-Wales without recourse to ploughing and reseeding (Milton & Davies, 1947). The processes adopted consisted either of liming the native swards in the absence of fertilizers or else fertilizing the sward either in the presence or absence of lime. The grazing animal played an important part in the changes that took place. Some of the treatments resulted in the partial or complete extinction of the native hill herbage and its replacement by grasses and clovers of high productivity and mineral content.