Rapeseed regrowth and white clover cover crop valorisation through sheep grazing (DiverIMPACTS Practice Abstract)

Abstract

Sheep grazing allows for the valorisation of permanent ground cover while quickly returning nitrogen fixed by WC (up to 100 Kg N ha-1) to the soil. In this way, the carbon: nitrogen balance is maintained below 15, and the nitrogen deficiency risk for the following crop is reduced. Moreover, sheep grazing regulates vole and slug populations. Under such a scheme, there is no more requirement for interventions or inputs between the rapeseed sowing and the winter cereal sowing. From the cropping system perspective, the only additional cost associated with this is the WC seeds cost