Grasslands have the potential to offer multiple ecosystem services. In addition to food production, they could reduce biodiversity loss and, as a carbon sink, help to mitigate climate change and aid the transition to zero-carbon.
This online masters-level module looks at the range and distribution of grassland and forage crops. Nutrient management and environmental protection are themes throughout, as are strategies for grazing and forage preservation. The role of plant breeding and management is investigated. The ecosystem services and management requirements of a range of grassland systems will be evaluated.
Module Content:
- Range, distribution and outputs of grasslands—UK pastures and how the nature of pasture farming has developed and may change in the future.
- Characteristics of forage species — the connections between both morphology and yearly growth patterns with forage quality; how NIRS can be used to assay this.
- Grassland composition — pasture establishment; how management affects grassland composition.
- Managing pests and diseases in a changing environment —how climate change may alter the pest and disease load on grasslands.
- Soil quality and low input systems — linking soil health with pasture productivity; how the recommended listing process can be used for low input systems.
- Grazing – overview of grazing options; the use of technology for pasture management.
- Forage breeding—a look at IBERS’ forage breeding programmes and future prospects.
- Forage preservation and bio-refining —the production of hay and silage from pastures; the prospect of using forage in bio-refining.
- Livestock Nutrition – associating pasture quality with animal nutrition; reducing green-house gas emissions; altering fat composition in grazing cattle.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Detail the range and distribution of grasslands and forages and the characteristics of the major herbage species.
- Review and evaluate the development of new forage crops for use in pasture-based systems.
- Review and evaluate the potential of grass biorefining.
- Evaluate the influence of management and environment on pasture composition and critically appraise forage cropping programmes.
- Evaluate grazing and forage conservation requirements and evaluate grassland and forage management plans and conservation systems in order to provide optimum yield and quality.
- Critically appraise the potential for current research in grassland and forage crop production and utilisation to provide alternative methods of livestock feeding.
This module is at CQFW Level 7
Starts each September and runs for 13 weeks
The following Training Providers are available to deliver this course: