Planned start date: 01.03.2023
Planned end date: 15.12.2027
Grazing is a central component of organic farming and is also prescribed in the guidelines as a mandatory feeding system for roughage consumers.
Pastures are among the most intensively used areas on organic grassland farms. While animal excrement produces a significant amount of fertilizer, this is not optimally distributed, leading to a decline in the condition of the vegetation between dung and urine deposits over time. This plot trial aims to evaluate the effect of supplemental fertilization with liquid manure on pasture yield and forage quality, using varying intensities of additional fertilization.
Regularly and intensively grazed pastures not only have a low growth height but, as a consequence, also exhibit shallower root systems. Therefore, grazing systems with low growth height are clearly at a disadvantage in locations with prolonged dry periods. Furthermore, a higher proportion of bare soil increases direct water evaporation from the ground. The classic short-grass pasture, consisting mainly of the relatively low-growing grasses perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, suffers a significant drop in yield during dry periods. In a second grazing trial, a paddock system for dairy cows will be tested on designated plots, where different grazing compositions will be examined. These will be enhanced with cultivated forage herbs, and data will be collected on how such grazing systems perform in the Alpine region with regard to yield and forage quality.
