The clover trial at Clonakilty Agricultural College has seen a fall-off in clover content since the beginning of the trial. In 2014, there was an average clover content of 37.1% in paddocks and for 2017 this fell to an average of 15.2%.
Teagasc researcher Brian McCarthy said potential solutions include implementing a programme of reseeding or over-sowing clover on paddocks and a reduction of artificial nitrogen use on clover paddocks.
“All of this ground was reseeded in 2012 and 2013, so we are going to try and follow this through for as long as we can. We may drop nitrogen levels from 250kg/N/ha/year to 150kg to see if this has an effect,” he said.
Fertilizer association of Ireland field trip to agricultural catchment trial at Timoleague. \ Tommy Moyles
Cows grazing clover swards had an average of 48kg extra milk solids per cow per year over the four years of the trial to date.
McCarthy was speaking at the Fertilizer Association of Ireland summer trip, which visited the Clonakilty clover trial and the Teagasc agricultural catchment programme at Timoleague.
Water quality
The Timoleague catchment is situated near Clonakilty and dairy is the predominant land use in the area. It consists of 758ha in an area of which 85% is grassland. One-third of the catchment is farming at a stocking rate that requires a nitrates derogation.
One of the main elements of the programme is water quality monitoring for nutrient run-off.
A monitoring kiosk was installed at the outlet of the waterway in the area.
Dermot Leahy of Teagasc showing attendees the data collection kiosk. \ Tommy Moyles
This houses data recording equipment including an automated sampling machine. This collects water samples every 10 minutes and tests it for nitrogen, phosphorus, conductivity, temperature and total organic carbon.
Let's put some numbers on it and see what’s actually happening
Dermot Leahy of Teagasc oversees the Timoleague catchment. He gave some background on it.
“Locally, agriculture was getting the blame for some of the issues in local bays. At open meetings, some farmers said: OK, let's put some numbers on it and see what’s actually happening. We have a good relationship with the farmers.”
Fertilizer association of Ireland field trip to agricultural catchment trial at Timoleague. \ Tommy Moyles
The effect of nitrates on estuaries was one of the reasons behind the creation of the catchments programme.
Leahy explained: “That nitrogen can come from one mile away or 100 miles. As soon as nitrogen hits the water, it is heading for its destination, which is generally a bay or an estuary. When it hits that estuary, it’s having an effect as it is feeding algae and leading to blooms.”
Intense rain events
According to Leahy, the Timoleague catchment is mirroring the national trend in falling soil phosphorus.
“The more intense rain events are having a bigger effect on the phosphorus levels," he said. "The higher the rain event, the higher the levels of phosphorous getting dumped into the streams and through run-off of slurry and soil erosion. As farmers, we’re mining phosphorus from the soil.”
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The clover trial at Clonakilty Agricultural College has seen a fall-off in clover content since the beginning of the trial. In 2014, there was an average clover content of 37.1% in paddocks and for 2017 this fell to an average of 15.2%.
Teagasc researcher Brian McCarthy said potential solutions include implementing a programme of reseeding or over-sowing clover on paddocks and a reduction of artificial nitrogen use on clover paddocks.
“All of this ground was reseeded in 2012 and 2013, so we are going to try and follow this through for as long as we can. We may drop nitrogen levels from 250kg/N/ha/year to 150kg to see if this has an effect,” he said.
Fertilizer association of Ireland field trip to agricultural catchment trial at Timoleague. \ Tommy Moyles
Cows grazing clover swards had an average of 48kg extra milk solids per cow per year over the four years of the trial to date.
McCarthy was speaking at the Fertilizer Association of Ireland summer trip, which visited the Clonakilty clover trial and the Teagasc agricultural catchment programme at Timoleague.
Water quality
The Timoleague catchment is situated near Clonakilty and dairy is the predominant land use in the area. It consists of 758ha in an area of which 85% is grassland. One-third of the catchment is farming at a stocking rate that requires a nitrates derogation.
One of the main elements of the programme is water quality monitoring for nutrient run-off.
A monitoring kiosk was installed at the outlet of the waterway in the area.
Dermot Leahy of Teagasc showing attendees the data collection kiosk. \ Tommy Moyles
This houses data recording equipment including an automated sampling machine. This collects water samples every 10 minutes and tests it for nitrogen, phosphorus, conductivity, temperature and total organic carbon.
Let's put some numbers on it and see what’s actually happening
Dermot Leahy of Teagasc oversees the Timoleague catchment. He gave some background on it.
“Locally, agriculture was getting the blame for some of the issues in local bays. At open meetings, some farmers said: OK, let's put some numbers on it and see what’s actually happening. We have a good relationship with the farmers.”
Fertilizer association of Ireland field trip to agricultural catchment trial at Timoleague. \ Tommy Moyles
The effect of nitrates on estuaries was one of the reasons behind the creation of the catchments programme.
Leahy explained: “That nitrogen can come from one mile away or 100 miles. As soon as nitrogen hits the water, it is heading for its destination, which is generally a bay or an estuary. When it hits that estuary, it’s having an effect as it is feeding algae and leading to blooms.”
Intense rain events
According to Leahy, the Timoleague catchment is mirroring the national trend in falling soil phosphorus.
“The more intense rain events are having a bigger effect on the phosphorus levels," he said. "The higher the rain event, the higher the levels of phosphorous getting dumped into the streams and through run-off of slurry and soil erosion. As farmers, we’re mining phosphorus from the soil.”
Read more
Clonakilty clover trial: extra 55kg of milk solids per cow
MCPA in 80% of drinking water pesticide contaminations
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