PASTURE RESEARCH IN THE UK - PRESENT KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE-PROSPECTS

Pasture research in the UK has increasingly been aimed at understandin g the mechanisms that underlie pasture plant responses to different ma nagements. The need to develop agricultural systems that are both sust ainable and economically viable has strengthened interest in reliable animal production from pasture and has emphasised the need to understa nd how white clover can best be maintained in the grazed sward. Breede rs are focusing on meeting the nutritional requirements of the grazing animal and are enjoying increasing success in incorporating new genet ic material from plant collections into varieties of grass and clover which are better able to withstand environmental stresses. Economic an d environmental considerations have stimulated interest in gaining fur ther insights into the nature of (and the reasons for) the species cha nges which follow reductions in fertiliser inputs and stocking rates. The possibility of harnessing the preferences of different grazing ani mals to influence vegetational change is being explored. Soil microbio logy and nutrient availability in soils (and their influence on future productive capacity) are also influenced by reduced inputs and are su bjects attracting increased interest. This paper discusses current und erstanding of these topics in the UK and identifies some specific prob lems that require further study.