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Tips for desiccated grassland
The precipitation deficit has risen sharply in most places. As a result, drought damage is visible on some plots of grassland. What should you do with desiccated grassland? Some practical tips.
To take the right actions, you need to know exactly what your grassland is like. If the plot is still green, it may, for example, be the case that there are many unwanted grasses such as cultivation. So assess how the grass stock is and whether there is still life in the good grasses.
Grassland 'reset'
The well-moisturized soils or plots that have been irrigated may have a light mowing cut. It is best to mow it so that the quality does not deteriorate further and the grass can make a fresh start again. In the video some tips for this 'resetting' of grassland:
Overseeding or renewing
This reset is not an issue on the more desiccated plots. If you expect the grass to recover sufficiently, leave the grass alone for now. Overseeding with recovery mixture Havera 3 as soon as precipitation comes again, the grass stock can help again. Overseeding can help even a heavily dried field on top, this is how this farmer experienced >
If the sod is seriously damaged, tearing is the only option. Tillage is also recommended for outdated grassland or disturbing layers. On sandy and loess soil you can tear grass to renew until 31 August, provided you report it to RVO. There is a reduction of 50 kg N/ha. Sow a quality mixture such as Havera 1 or 4 in, with the main proportion of tetraploid perennial ryegrass. You can also sow clovers at the beginning of September, for extra protein next year.
If you need extra grass quickly, you can choose Havera 2; a rotational mixture of fast growing tetraploid perennial ryegrass and fodder type Italian ryegrass.
A crop rotation with, for example, maize or fodder beets may also be a good option. Or a concentrate crop of (winter) field beans.
