{"id":9537,"date":"2022-01-28T09:49:12","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T09:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genus-develop.go-vip.co\/promar-de\/?p=9537"},"modified":"2022-01-28T09:49:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T09:49:13","slug":"the-wonderful-ways-of-herbal-leys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.promar-international.com\/de\/the-wonderful-ways-of-herbal-leys\/","title":{"rendered":"The wonderful ways of herbal leys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Abbie Allen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farming systems in the UK are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact, whilst maintaining their current productivity. How is this possible?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An increasing number of farmers are moving away from high input grass leys and introducing low input herbal leys. Herbal leys can play a key role in helping farmers to reduce their environmental impact as well as providing other benefits to soil and animal health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is there scientific evidence to support this, Defra and supplier networks are also encouraging farmers to introduce herbal leys with financial incentives. The environmental benefits of herbal leys is recognised in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme<\/a>, offering a financial benefit of \u00a3350 ha\/year. They too are featured in the upcoming Sustainable Farming Incentive<\/a>, and milk buyers are also providing financial benefits for herbal leys grown and fed on farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is a herbal ley?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A herbal ley is a complex seed mixture of legumes, herbs and grasses. A common mix would include grass species, such as ryegrasses, meadow fescue and festulolium, legume species including clovers, and herbs such as chicory and ribgrass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beauty of a herbal ley is that you can tailor a mix to suit your farm\u2019s needs. Herbal ley mixtures can be adapted to suit your soil type and purpose, whether that be to improve soil structure, increase farmland biodiversity or provide a home-grown high-protein natural forage. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Management of a herbal ley<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is recommended that a herbal ley is in the ground for 4 years to provide optimum nitrogen fixation, root growth and forage yield. Research trials have proven that complex herbal ley mixtures can consistently yield higher than monoculture grass leys that received nitrogen applications – yields up to 13 t\/dm can be achieved. Herbal leys should be sown into warm soils ideally late April\/May to mid-August\/Early September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How wonderful are these herbal leys?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Livestock<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n