Studies on lucerne and lucerne-grass leys: IV. The effect of systems of grazing management on the persistence of a lucerne-cocksfoot ley

Abstract

1. Experiments to assess the effects of grazing management on the persistence of a lucerne-cocksfoot ley are described and the results discussed.2. The work confirms the general opinion, based on other experiments in which lucerne was defoliated by cutting, that frequent defoliation causes a reduction in the persistence of the lucerne.3. Defoliation at 8-weekly intervals maintained a satisfactory balance between the sown species in a lucerne-cocksfoot sward, irrespective of whether defoliation was by cutting or by grazing or by combination of the two.4. Grazing at 4-weekly or 2-weekly intervals led to serious reductions in the proportion of lucerne in the sward.5. The provision of a rest period, either early or late in the growing season, had little effect on the amount of lucerne present after 2 years on plots subjected to grazing at 4-weekly or 2-weekly intervals.