Dylan Roberts
Llwyngwair Home Farm, Trefdraeth, Pembrokeshire
Evaluating the Impact of Seaweed Biostimulant on Grassland Productivity and Soil Health
Dylan Roberts will be participating in a trial using the Câr-y-Môr seaweed based Biostimulant, working in conjunction with WWF and Terrafarmer. The use of seaweed based bioproducts has been gaining momentum in crop production systems owing to their content of bioactive components that have phytostimulatory properties, promoting increased plant growth and yields.
The trial will begin in earnest in late April/early May and will consist of various plots on grassland:
- Control: No biological input, standard fertiliser
- Treatment 1: Biological input + 30% fertiliser reduction
- Treatment 2: Biological input + 50% fertiliser reduction
Each plot will be GPS-tagged to ensure repeatable sampling, which over the season will include assessments of soil structure, soil biology, crop yield and nutritional value, using methods including:
- Soil analysis (Solvita tests)
- Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)
- Leaf and feed value analyses
- Quadrat-based yield assessments
The project will also contribute to the Sustainable Land Management outcomes including:
- contribute to high herd health and welfare
- reducing the farms greenhouse gas emissions
- improve resource efficiency by making the most of home-grown forage on farm
- mitigate flood & drought risk by incorporating deeper rooting leys