The significant uptake in multi-species leys driven by the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is resulting in many dairy farmers trying them for the first time this spring, with a danger many will use grassland establishment thinking which could backfire on them, says Jim Juby, of Horizon Seeds.
"Establishing herbal and multi-species leys is fundamentally different from grassland reseeding and it is important that people appreciate this if they want to get the best out of them.
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"Herbal and multi-species leys are far less likely to respond well to a low soil temperature. a soil temperature of 6degC recorded five days consecutively, which is usually achieved in mid to late April, is more than adequate for grass to grow away quickly.
Cold
"This is, however, too cold for these more vulnerable and slower growing forage species with the herb and legumes in the ley requiring a warmer soil to establish well."
Mr Juby says the legumes contained in multispecies leys mixes are particularly susceptible and these are a key element of the crops as they provide the protein content that makes them so beneficial to cows and livestock.
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"If these do not grow away quickly when sown, they will simply be overwhelmed by听 grasses and potentially weeds, and their contribution will be negligible.
"It is far better to wait until May when soil temperatures have been 8鈥�10degC for five consecutive days than go earlier for the sake of it."
Heavier soils that hold onto water are likely to be the most problematic, he points out.
Lighter soils
"You might be able to go earlier in lighter soils that are more free draining, but the recommendations regarding soil temperature remain.
"The last thing you want is weak, open leys that can simply not get going and quickly succumb to weed pressure and more vigorously growing plants in the mix.
"Depth of sowing is another critical area and one where you are likely to have to compromise. Direct drilling can push the seed down too deep and while grass will push straight through, legumes will not be able to.
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"Closer to the surface is better with a 3-4mm depth being ideal but 5-10mm is acceptable. In an ideal world you would drill the grass-type species of the mix and spin the herbs and legumes on separately and seed can be supplied separately, if required."
Sowing in late Spring and into Summer is far preferable than Autumn drilling, says Mr Juby.
"It takes multi-species leys six weeks to establish themselves and to grow away, so you are unlikely to get the right conditions if you drill after September 1.
"Soil moisture can be a problem as the summer develops, but there is far less risk of this being an issue than there is of too cold a temperature and day length post autumn.
Drought
"A good herbal ley will, however, be capable of surviving and succeeding in both drought and waterlogged conditions where pure grass leys may suffer.
"They have generally high nutrient value with second cut silage, in particular, capable of containing very high protein levels plus there are numerous animal health benefits associated with them too, including athelmintic properties of the species included in the leys."
It is a good idea to plan drilling around weed flushes, Mr Juby advises. Every farm has its own unique weed growth pattern so making sowing arrangements around these is always a good idea.
"Generally speaking, herbal leys require a very fine seedbed. As the seed size is so small, it is important to have as fine a tilth as possible for good soil to seed contact.
"Good seedbed preparation will aid moisture retention with double rolling dramatically improving this as well as helping with the all-important seed to soil contact.
"Undersowing herbal and multispecies leys under Spring cereal crops for wholecrop can also be carried out successfully if you are in a position to do this."
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Weed control
While establishment and time of sowing are key elements of weed control, post emergence treatment can be very tricky with multi species leys says Mr Juby
"Weeds can be controlled by grazing hard and spot spraying or using a weed wiper for taller weeds, but spot spraying needs to be done very carefully as many of the species are very susceptible to sprays and drift can cause a lot of damage.
"The best advice is to leave the ley for a minimum of six to eight weeks before taking a light graze to encourage tillering. Topping and mowing can also be carried out to control weed flushes.
Grazing
"The ley will vary in make-up as the season evolves and strict grazing control and management is key in maintaining the quality as well as allowing for a good recovery.
"Over the life cycle of the ley its composition will alter often in line with changes in season and soil structure but a well-managed ley should last up to five or six years.
"It is also noticeable that the multi-species leys can improve soil structure and soil drainage and this helps considerably with future rotations particularly on mixed farms."
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Whatever mix you choose, the starting point is to base your choice on this containing听roughly 40% grasses, 30% legumes and 30% beneficial herbs, says Mr Juby.
"Ultimately the best combination of species will be determined by your individual soil type and rotation but chosen wisely, herbal leys will be a valuable addition to your home-grown grazing and forage resources.
"Such mixes provide the best balance between performance, soil improvement and feed quality but the individual constituents will depend on your soil type with deep rooted cultivars particularly suited to lighter soils.
"Get the mix right, however, and you will benefit from a rich source of protein and beneficial trace minerals to promote good herd health, fertility and milk production."
Five top tips for good herbal ley establishment
- Choose a mix suited to your soils conditions and individual requirements.
- Aim for an overall mix of 40% grasses, 30% legumes and 30% beneficial herbs.
- Wait for a minimum soil temperature of 8degC for five consecutive days and plan sowing date around weed flushes.
- Choose cultivations to prepare a fine seedbed and roll after sowing to aid moisture retention and good seed to soil contact.
- Leave the ley for a minimum of six to eight weeks before taking a light graze.
