Cilthrew Project Update - July 2024

All plots were damaged by rabbits over winter resulting in very poor ground cover and weed ingress, while the cold and wet spring in 2024 further hindered growth.

April saw temperatures rise and following a small application of Nitrogen, most of the plots had fully established, with a first grazing planned for early May.

Setting up electric fences and grazing exclusion cages

The field was split into 6 grazing paddocks (GP) (Figure 4) using temporary electric fences (three strand polywire) to create paddocks of 0.5 ha to allow a graze and rest management to be undertaken with a target of 30 days rest period. Portable water troughs and above ground water pipes ensure optimal water supply in each paddock.

Grazing exclusion cages were set in the centre of each plot (with the coordinates recorded once decided) and grass samples taken only from within the cages, once a month and grass DM% and amount of DM grown each month recorded for each individual cage and averages worked out for each treatment.

Fresh grass samples were taken from each plot for analysis via wet chemistry on 22 July in order to determine nutritional value of each mixture;

Figure 4. The plots divided into paddocks using electric fencing as shown by the black lines

Figure 5. Grazing exclusion cage in T2 treatment plot

Weed management

Due to the poor initial establishment and high rabbit activity in the field, weeds such as spear thistle, moss and chickweed have been an issue in most plots. The moss seems to have regressed following the N application in April, while the thistles remain a problem but are being managed by topping, despite the wet conditions making it difficult to manage them on the steeper parts of the field.
 

Further information regarding the use of fungi in agriculture