Abstract
Temperate grasslands can be highly productive. However, those that are productive are generally heavily dependent on high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Including legumes such as white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in the sward can reduce reliance on N fertilizer. Recent investigations have evaluated the potential of multispecies swards, which are defined as agronomically improved grasslands that include multiple plant functional groups, e.g., grasses, legumes, and forage forbs. Several of the benefits and challenges of multispecies swards are summarized in this review. To date, the most prominent forb species included in multispecies swards are chicory (Cichorum intybus L.) and ribgrass/ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.). Multispecies swards grown under reduced N fertilizer input conditions can produce as much biomass as monocultures receiving large quantities of N fertilizer. The nutritive value of multispecies swards may potentially be greater than grass-only swards, especially since forbs may contribute additional micro and macro minerals to livestock diet. While challenges associated with multispecies swards may include weed management and facilitating persistence of the forb species in particular, the overall evidence suggests that well-managed multispecies swards can enhance the productivity as well as environmental sustainability of grazing systems.
Highlights
Introduction and BackgroundGrasslands make up more than 40% of Earth’s terrestrial surface, of which grazing lands occupy the largest single land-use type, encompassing more than 40 million km2 [1,2,3]
Livestock grazing systems in temperate regions have become increasingly specialized over recent decades largely as a result of ease of applying N fertilizers and use of herbicides, which has resulted in the increasing emphasis on the use of perennial cool-season (C3) grass monocultures [16]
Pasture systems consisting of white clover and perennial ryegrass are representative of successful grass–legume mixtures, representing much of the temperate regions today, especially Europe and New Zealand [32]
Summary
Grasslands make up more than 40% of Earth’s terrestrial surface, of which grazing lands occupy the largest single land-use type, encompassing more than 40 million km2 [1,2,3]. Extensively managed systems oftentimes result in agriculturally unproductive grasslands, largely due to limited soil nitrogen (N) [7], while the high levels of nutrient inputs, in the form of synthetic fertilizers or animal excreta, associated with intensively managed grasslands, may result in negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity [5,8]. While these two situations represent extremes in nutrient availability, there are many variations in management that result in a continuum that will have tradeoffs in nutrient management, environmental impact, and the overall productivity of a system. The objectives of this paper are to review pertinent literature relevant to the agronomic and livestock production aspects of multispecies pasture systems in temperate regions, evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with their use, discuss potential challenges of implementation of these systems in temperate regions, and identify future research needs to improve economic and environmental sustainability of grazing-based livestock systems
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