Beneficial effects of multi-species mixtures on N2O emissions from intensively managed grassland swards

Cummins, Saoirse; Finn, John A.; Richards, Karl G.; Lanigan, Gary; Grange, Guylain; Brophy, Caroline; Cardenas, L. M.; Misselbrook, Tom; Reynolds, Christopher K.; Król, Dominika

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148163

Cited by 41 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…More recently, there has been growing research and agricultural industry interest in multispecies swards, and the potential that these offer for simultaneous delivery of environmental gains along with improved livestock performance ( Huyghe et al, 2012 , Grace et al, 2019 , McCarthy et al, 2020 , Cummins et al, 2021 ). More complex grasslands, such as these and semi-natural grasslands, allow greater opportunities for selective feeding, and the choices made by grazing animals can have a marked effect on floristic diversity.…”

Section: What Is Being Grazed?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Fraser¹,

Vallin²,

Roberts³

2022

animal

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Section: What Is Being Grazed?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Fraser¹,

Vallin²,

Roberts³

2022

animal

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“…the study of Loza et al, 2021. Nonetheless, legume-based and multi-species swards require less N fertiliser inputs to maintain yield production and have lower associated N 2 O emissions and emissions intensity than conventional L. perenne monocultures (Cummins et al, 2021). Thus, there is the potential that more diverse swards could give dual GHG abatement.…”

Section: Current Research Projects In Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solutions to enteric methane abatement in Ireland

Cummins

Lanigan

Richards

et al. 2022

Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research

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The efficiency of Ireland’s grass-based livestock systems can be attributed to high outputs, low production costs and a low carbon footprint relative to housed systems. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) of which enteric fermentation from livestock production is a key source, being directly responsible for 57% of Irish agricultural GHG emissions. There are a number of strategies including dietary manipulation and breeding initiatives that have shown promising results as potential mitigation solutions for ruminant livestock production. However, the majority of international research has predominantly been conducted on confined systems. Given the economic viability of Irish livestock systems, it is vital that any mitigation methods are assessed at pasture. Such research cannot be completed without access to suitable equipment for measuring CH4 emissions at grazing. This review documents the current knowledge capacity in Ireland (publications and projects) and includes an inventory of equipment currently available to conduct research. A number of strategic research avenues are identified herein that warrant further investigation including breeding initiatives and dietary manipulation. It was notable that enteric CH4 research seems to be lacking in Ireland as it constituted 14% of Irish agricultural GHG research publications from 2016 to 2021. A number of key infrastructural deficits were identified including respiration chambers (there are none currently operational in the Republic of Ireland) and an urgent need for more pasture-based GreenFeed™ systems. These deficits will need to be addressed to enable inventory refinement, research progression and the development of effective solutions to enteric CH4 abatement in Ireland.

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“…3), with boundary (ditches and hedgerow) management as the most frequently studied ESMP (n = 4). Five articles (Feehan et al, 2005;Potts et al, 2009;Peach et al, 2011;Baker et al, 2012;Curtis et al, 2019), three from the UK and one each from NZ and ROI, investigated the impact of field margins (n = 3) and replacement of grassland with other plant species (n = 2) on biodiversity. The impacts of individual ESMPs on biodiversity are summarized in Table 4.…”

Section: Environmentally Sensitive Management Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pro-environmental diversification of pasture-based dairy and beef production in Ireland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand: a scoping review of impacts and challenges

Markiewicz-Kęszycka

Carter

O’Brien

et al. 2022

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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Milk and beef derived from pasture-based systems have been characterized by higher nutritional values and a lower environmental footprint than their equivalents obtained via indoor systems. However, intensification of pasture-based production can have adverse impacts on biodiversity and the environment. To date, studies on pro-environmental diversification options leading to improvement of environmental performance of pasture-based dairy and beef production have rarely been synthesized. The present study sought to review current on-farm pro-environmental measures with the potential for enhancing biodiversity status and/or reducing the environmental impacts of pasture-based agriculture. Literature on farmer attitudes toward these measures was also reviewed to identify potential obstacles and opportunities for transitioning to pro-environmental agriculture. A systematic search of published research from high-income island countries characterized by oceanic temperate climate with a high dependence on pasture-based agriculture—the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, was conducted. Thirty studies that assessed the impact of pro-environmental measures, eight ‘attitudinal’ studies of dairy and beef farmers and one study covering both aspects were identified. Inductive thematical analysis was subsequently undertaken. Environmentally sensitive management practices such as hedgerows and field margins management, mixed grazing (where two or more herbivorous animals graze the same land), rare livestock breeds, multispecies swards, organic farming and agroforestry were identified as primary themes studied under the auspices of pro-environmental diversification, while forestry, bioenergy crops and organic farming were the main themes identified within attitudinal research studies. Findings suggest that environmentally sensitive practices have varied effects on biodiversity. Mixed grazing was found to improve livestock production, while studies of organic farming reported multiple positive impacts on biodiversity and animal welfare. Effect of multispecies swards on methane emissions and urinary nitrogen extraction were found to be inconsistent. Attitudinal research suggests that the main barrier to implementing afforestation is its lack of attractiveness compared to ‘traditional’ farming and that organic farmer decisions regarding agricultural management practices might be less profit-oriented and influenced by ecological beliefs to a greater extent than decisions of conventional farmers. The results of this study confirm that pro-environmental diversification inherently encompasses multiple scientific disciplines; however, previous study designs and outcomes were found to be fragmented and narrowly focused. Considering the urgency and importance of climate and biodiversity crises, pro-environmental diversification of pasture-based dairy and beef production has rarely been holistically approached and remains understudied. The development of practical, sustainable solutions for farming based on circular economy and respect to nature and additional strategies to increase farmer and consumer environmental awareness should be prioritized by policymakers, advisory and scientific bodies.

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Beneficial effects of multi-species mixtures on N2O emissions from intensively managed grassland swards

Cited by 41 publications

References 54 publications

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Solutions to enteric methane abatement in Ireland

Pro-environmental diversification of pasture-based dairy and beef production in Ireland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand: a scoping review of impacts and challenges

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