18 April 2024
Deryl and Frances Jones of Rhyd Y Gofaint, Ceredigion, are leading the way in sustainable agriculture with a research project exploring the potential of white clover to improve nitrogen use efficiency and boost milk and meat production.
As Rhyd Y Gofaint relies entirely on grass and silage to feed their herd of 120 Holstein Friesian dairy cows, Texel cross Charollais sheep flock, and beef cattle, nitrogen fertilizer is a major input cost for their grass-based production.
Building on a previous Farming Connect trial that focused on soil fertility indicators, and with the support of independent grassland specialist Chris Duller, the Jones family is now exploring the potential of white clover to further improve their dairy farm's efficiency.
Chris Duller, grassland specialist, is optimistic about the project. "White clover has potential to reduce fertilizer use and boost animal performance," he says. "The Jones family experiment with different varieties and monitoring is a great way to find the best approach for their farm."
The project investigates white clover, a legume that offers a natural solution to this challenge. With nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots, white clover captures atmospheric nitrogen and converts it into a plant-usable form through a natural process. This biological nitrogen fixation can potentially replace up to 150kg/ha of synthetic fertilizer, leading to significant cost savings. Reduced synthetic fertilizer use can also help to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve water quality.
The benefits of white clover extend beyond cost reduction. It boasts the highest digestibility of common grassland plants and a high crude protein content, resulting in increased quality pastures for grazing animals.
Irish research provides compelling evidence. Dairy farms transitioning to clover-based swards have halved their nitrogen fertilizer use while maintaining or even increasing milk production. Notably, one project achieved national average milk output with just half the national average fertilizer input, demonstrating the power of clover.
The project explores two approaches for maximizing white clover's potential:
- Overseeding existing swards: This method will compare standard white clover with a hybrid variety at different seeding rates.
- Potential full reseeding (weather permitting): Depending on weather conditions, the project might explore a full reseeding option, involving and surface cultivation.
The project will carefully monitor clover establishment, dry matter production, sward quality, and botanical composition throughout the growing season. Additionally, milk yields and quality will be tracked to assess the impact on overall production.
s progress, the Jones family aim to determine the optimal N fertilizer application rate for clover-dominant swards. This will allow them to further reduce costs while maintaining or increasing production. Deryl Jones added:
'We are interested as to whether including more legumes in our sward can work in Rhyd y Gofaint. If the white clover experiment is successful, we would hope to see a reduction in fertiliser costs coupled with improved constituents in our milk."
The Rhyd Y Gofaint Farm experiment represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to dairy and livestock production, harnessing the power of white clover for a greener future.
