From an intensively managed agricultural grassland to an extensively managed grassland: the first years of transition

Intensively managed grasslands that become extensively managed require a transition period that does not neglect soil properties and gradual changes in the sward composition over time. This is necessary to prevent the grassland becoming botanically stuck in the transition phase, in which less wanted grasses such as Elymus repens and Holcus lanatus are dominant and are in heavy competition with herbs, due to nutrient rich soils and the botanical composition at the end of the intensive management. It is, however, unclear what this management exactly should be, how the farmer can use the products of these grasslands, and how and at what pace the properties of these grasslands will change over time. One paddock grassland in transition on the ILVO experimental farm is being followed up closely since fertilization and herbicide application ceased and the sward was cut only 2–3 times instead of 4–5 times per year. Soil samples, dry matter crop yield (DMY), fodder quality and botanical composition of the sward are measured. Although it is still too early to make conclusions, already some slight changes in species abundance have been observed. The new cutting management provides a fodder with a rather low to very low crude protein content with a good digestibility coefficient.