The effect of soil type on yield and micronutrient content of pasture species

Summary

This controlled-environment experiment examined how soil properties influence the yield and micronutrient content of 15 common pasture species (grasses, forbs, legumes) grown on four contrasting soils. Whilst yield and micronutrient uptake were significantly affected by soil properties and botanical group, species-level recommendations for micronutrient content were largely generic across soils, with the notable exception of forbs which showed soil-dependent micronutrient uptake patterns. The findings suggest that inclusion of forbs in multispecies swards may require soil-specific selection to optimise micronutrient delivery to livestock, whereas grass and legume selection can follow more universal principles.

UK applicability

These findings are directly applicable to UK pastoral systems, which increasingly adopt multispecies swards. The use of UK soil types and common temperate pasture species enhances relevance, though recommendations should account for regional soil variation, particularly when targeting forb inclusion for micronutrient optimisation.

Key measures

Biomass yield, micronutrient concentrations and total uptake of plant species, soil properties (texture, organic matter, micronutrient concentrations, pH)

Outcomes reported

The study measured yield and micronutrient concentrations (and total uptake) of 15 grass, forb and legume species grown on four contrasting soils in controlled conditions, with specific testing of soil pH effects. It evaluated whether species selection for micronutrient content must be soil-specific or can be generic across different soil types.

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