The effect of 19 years of restoration managements on forage quality and herbage‐soil relationships within improved upland grassland

Restoration managements based on extensification strategies are commonly used to improve biodiversity formerly improved grasslands. In this study the long-term effects of six different restoration management regimes (extensive sheep grazing only, hay cutting followed by aftermath extensive grazing; each with and without lime application) forage quality, soil/herbage/sward characteristics relationships were determined compared a conventionally fertilized, limed extensively grazed control. incorporating resulted in higher quality than from grazed-only treatments; latter featuring only few forb species large proportion ungrazed matured grasses plus dead biomass. Concentrations crude protein, neutral detergent fibre K herbage negatively correlated cover forbs total number plant species, whereas vitro organic matter digestibility, concentrations water-soluble carbohydrates, Ca, Mg, Na positively. contrast, graminoids dry standing Regardless treatment was generally suitable for or beef cattle feeding. A positive relationship between P concentration soil recorded. No effect previous liming found. Overall, found introducing support postponing timing first defoliation mid growing season did not deteriorate comparison continual upland grassland.