Sigrun Ammann

@GrasslandSocSA @BerjakDonna @kzndard Are there Italian ryegrass cultivars that persist into the second autumn in the KZN Midlands climate, and could they have a comparative yield to Westerwolds planted annually?

Italian and Westerwolds types of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) play different roles in pasture fodder flow. Certain Italian types can be planted for good autumn growth and summer yield. @BerjakDonna @GrasslandSocSA#GSSACongress59 @KZNDARD

@CharlesfordFarm wonderful setting, great little farm shop

@GrasslandSocSA agscience.org.nz/using-plantain…

Heidi Hawkins clearly debunks the notion that fire destroys soil carbon. Moderate burning (biennial) will keep stable forms of carbon in the ground in mesic montane grassland. #GSSACongress58

@GrasslandSocSA @BerjakDonna @kzndard Data shows the importance of using mixed pastures to alleviate fodder flow challenges and to have more persistent pastures reducing need for annual re-establishment

Performance of Italian ryegrass compared to Tall fescue & Cocksfoot cultivars over two years. Tall Fescue & Cocksfoot can fill a fodder flow gap in summer. @BerjakDonna @GrasslandSocSA #GSSACongress58 @KZNDARD

Data shows the importance of using mixed pastures to alleviate fodder flow challenges and to have more persistent pastures reducing annual re-establishment

Comparing the dry matter (DM) yields of Italian ryegrass and Tall Fescue cultivars in two different climatic zones, KZN southern Cape coast. @SigrunAmmann @BerjakDonna @GrasslandSocSA #GSSACongress58 @KZNDARD @WesternCapeGov

@GrasslandSocSA The famous physicist, Freeman Dyson was the first to suggest, in 1977, that we could combat climate change by planting 1 trillion trees. He knew nothing about grasslands or trees. sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

@GrasslandSocSA @grasscraig Could this mean that in the long term there could also be effects on the nutrient balance in mixed and sweetveld or would growth/nutrient extraction still be too limited by rainfall?

Increased CO2 stimulates grass growth but reduces leaf nitrogen & forage quality because of limited soil N. Sourveld, with poor soils, may see biggest decline with Sweetveld & mixedveld less affected. #CO2 #ForageQuality #SoilN @grasscraig

Think you have a soil biology problem? Think again...it's more likely you have a soil habitat problem. And don't fall for alternative methods...a few proven practices will often do. Don't overthink your soil biology. My latest... csanr.wsu.edu/dont-overthink…

Excellent presentation

Performance of Tall fescue & Cocksfoot cultivars in 2021. Tall fescue on average produced ±2 tonnes more of dry matter yield than cocksfoot in first year after planting. @BerjakDonna @GrasslandSocSA #GSSACongress57 @KZNDARD @BerjakDonna

Going Hybrid with Q&A #GSSACongress57 #hybridcongress #aldamresort

Posters in session...@Siphelele2603 @NelmarieSaayman #GSSACongess57

Marike Trytsman from @ARCSouthAfrica presenting on Fodder trees snd shrubs indigenous to southern Africa #GSSACongress57

Respesenting @UKZN in collaboration with @UniMpumalanga @NqobileMotsoma1 at #GSSACongress57