Growing organic/low fert forage

[N.Yorks.]

Good for chalk, likes alkaline conditions.

But not here, naturally acid subsoils.

But you can apply lime to get it to at least 6.2 pH...... which isn't much more than what your target grassland pH is at 6.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

But is there any milk in that system? And assuming there is not...
Can we achieve much by, for example, letting a paddock set seed and mob graze it with dry cows or youngstock once a year, to kick start soil biology?

Yeah, of course . It's easier with youngstock, obviously they "stay there" instead of walking up and down the tracks to sh!t on the concrete

the main idea is to have whatever happens in the grazing system as even as possible, as opposed to them all standing in the gateway when you get there

 

[crashbox]

But you can apply lime to get it to at least 6.2 pH...... which isn't much more than what your target grassland pH is at 6.

Fair point.

Not sure why sanfoin didn't germinate here, possibly outcompeted by other herbs/grasses in autumn sowing. Had similar with Burnet and (to a lesser degree) plantain. Chicory on the other hand very strong and easy to establish.

Can't alter the subsoil pH easily through top-liming though, hence I have avoided lucerne with that deep tap root.