The Lands at Dowth – Geophysical Surveying
Scale of Surveying to Date The Henge & Shadow Henge A Concentric Enclosure(S. Davis, UCD. 2015)
Initially, using Geophysics to find our Archaeology
Subsequently, to aid Credible Land Management Decisions
The Lands at Dowth – Organic Matter Levels & their Variations2017, Sampling of Soil A Horizon to 30cm
(L. Graham, Devenish. 2017)Dowth Grass Swards
No ploughing for 40 YearsSome land never ploughed
Soil Type – Brown Earth
Average Organic Matter of 5.3%Expected Organic Matter of 7 to 9%
Why the disparity in Organic Matter??
Potential link between elevated Organic Matter Levels &
Heritage Human Activity??
The Lands at Dowth – Conservation Plan, Completed Sept 16
Supported by National Monuments ServiceEndorsed by UNESCO
The Initial Conclusion – 6,000 yrs of Food Production EvolutionDemonstrated uniquely, by the presence of five Heritage Landscapes
1. The Passage Tombs, Middle Neolithic, c. 5,500 years old
2. The Henge, Late Neolithic, c. 4,500 years old
3. The Concentric Enclosures, Early Medieval, c. 1,400 years old
4. The Rectangular Enclosures, Late Medieval, c. 1,000 years old
5. The Demesne Landscape, c. 300 years old
The Future – A Landscape “Performance House” for RuminantsThe Emergence of our Global Innovation Centre
Delivering Soil Improvement Optimising Grass Utilisation
Enhancing Carbon Sequestration Reducing Over Land Flow
The Devenish Lands at Dowth
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
6,000 Years of Farming Evolution
The Soil at Dowth & Its Variability
L. Graham, Devenish. 2017
Restoring our Soil Fertility – Soil pHMeasuring…..Managing…..& Measuring again!!
Feb. 2014Average pH 5.5
Feb. 2018Average pH 6.1
Feb. 2016Average pH 5.7
5t/ha Lime (spread Uniformly)Sept 2014
2-8t/ha Lime (Variable rate)Sept 2016
Could historic low soil pH explain low soil Organic Matter??
Matching Nutrient Application to Dowth Soil pH, 2014 to 2018To Reduce Wasted Nutrient, while soil pH very low, Nutrient Application Minimised
Soil pHNitrogen
Utilisation Phosphorus Utilisation
Potassium Utilisation
% of Fertiliser Wasted
5.0-5.5 77% 48% 77% 32%
5.5-6.0 85% 52% 100% 21%
6.0-6.5 100% 100% 100% 0%
Estimated Annual Phosphate & Potash Fluxes, at DowthAverage Nutrient Application Average Nutrient Removal Expected Net Impacts
Phosphate 37kg/ha (slurry & chemical) 50kg/ha (grazed by stock) -13kg/ha62kg/ha (slurry & chemical) 95kg/ha (cut for silage/hay) - 33kg/ha
Potash 77kg/ha (slurry & chemical) 50kg/ha (grazed by stock) +27kg/ha142kg/ha (slurry & chemical) 180kg/ha (cut for silage/hay) - 38kg/ha
Teagasc Green Book 2017
Restoring our Soil Fertility – Soil PhosphateMeasuring…..Managing…..& Measuring again!!
2014 20182016
Soil Phosphate levels have continued to decline as soil pH improvement delivers better Grass Utilisation, resulting in Soil Phosphate Mining
Soil Analysis shows expected Impact of 4 previous years Management!!
2014 20182016
Soil Potash levels Increase with Grazing,but, Reduce with Cutting for Silage or Hay
Soil Analysis shows expected Impact of 4 previous years Management!!
Restoring our Soil Fertility – Soil PotashMeasuring…..Managing…..& Measuring again!!
Supporting Outreach on the Importance of SoilsThe inclusion of Dowth with in Teagasc Square Programme, Autumn 2015
Keen to be involved in Communication & Outreach of Results
Variety of measurements undertaken as part of SQUARE Project in Racecourse Field
Maximising Sequestration, while extending Grazing Season, 2019Agroforestry - Trebling Sequestration, while extending Grazing by 17 weeks!!
J. McAdam, 2017Gordon, 2007
Improving Grass Yields, by validating Soil Improvement Programme
By Aerating Soils, Precision Soil Analysis
Applying Biologically Treated Slurry & magnesium/calcium Lime
Observed 10 - 22% Increase in Grass Yields & up to 36% Reduction in Ammonia
The Devenish Lands at Dowth – Success to DateEnhancing Profits through Improving Grass Utilisation
2014 2017 2020
Dowth 5.1 7.5 ??
Beef (€105/ha) €0 €252/ha/yr
Dairy (€181/ha) €0 €434.4/ha/yr
National grass yields
NFS 2016 (Beef) 4.6
Dairy 2017 11.9
All figures are utilised grass yields
Spence, G, Crosson et al, 2016 and Anon, Teagasc grass 10 campaign 2017
Impact of Biologically treating Slurry on Soil Biology?
Control Digest It Difference %
Total Nitrogen % 0.217 0.237 +9.2 (p<0.05)
NH4 Nitrogen % 0.132 0.144 +9.1 (p<0.05)
Organic Nitrogen % 0.085 0.093 +9.4 (NS)TVC Aerobic Bacteria (5 days 22 (5 days 22°C) cfu/gx10^6 10.33 13.07 +26.5 (NS)TVC Aerobic Bacteria (5 days 22 (5 days 22°C) cfu/gx10^6 8.2 11 +34.1 ( p< 0.05)
Slurry Crust Depth (cm) 11.83 10.33 -12.7 (NS)
Slurry Crust Shear (K Pa) 2.48 2.12 -14.5 (NS)
Slurry Crust Weight (kg) 16.61 14.58 -12.2 (NS)
Field Plot1st Cut
(T DM/Ha)2nd Cut
(T DM/Ha)
Total(T DM/Ha)
Rossin A- Untreated 5.03 6.91 11.93
Rossin B- Treated 7.24 6.06 13.29
Rossin C- No Slurry 3.73 3.64 7.37
Rossin D- Untreated 6.42 5.38 11.80
RossinA+D- Untreated Average 5.72 6.14 11.87
Currently in Teagasc Slurry Additive, Pot Experiment, Trial due to finish summer 2018
Extra 1.4t DM/ha grown on treated vs average untreated12% more grass grown
Estimated extra 1.21t utilised grass
Kingshay 2013 Average of 5 trials
Spense, G 2017
Measuring Impacts of Weather on Soil Conditions
2018 - Soil conditions to be recorded
across Dowth to determine…..
• Soil Temperature
• Soil Moisture
• Their Variation across Dowth
& their impact on …..
• Grass Growth
• Ground Trafficability
• Nos of days suitable for nutrient
application
Designing Swards to Improve Soil Drainage The Role of Sward Diversity in Accelerating Water Infiltration
PROSOILS, 2015
Red Clover Swards Infiltrate Water 14 times quickerthan Rye Grass only Swards
Evaluating Trees & Hedges as “On Farm” Sequester of Livestock Emissions
Recognition to the Principle of “on farm” Carbon Sequestration
S. Green, Teagasc, 2014DairyCo. 2011
J. Gilliland, Devenish, 2014
C Sequestration Renewable Total(Above Ground) Heat
Current Trees 9.5% 3% 12.5%Better Management 32% 3% 35%
Dowth Carbon Sink Potential - 35% of GHGs 200 Dairy Cows, with Followers(Before Considering Carbon sink of Soils!!)
Evaluating Trees & Hedges as “On Farm” Sequester of Livestock Emissions
Recognised beyond our Shores, but not within our Shores! at Dowth, Please Enjoy?!!
Please be alert and observant?!!Securing Carbon Credits for 460,000 ha of Rain Forest in The Congo
Using LiDAR to Access “Over Land Flow” of Water from Dowth
R. Cassidy, AFBI, 2016
80% of Phosphate in NI enters water course through “Over Land Flow!”2018 – Plan to measure & analysis water & assess need for Landscape Interventions
Maximising Sequestration, while extending Grazing Season, 2019Agroforestry - Trebling Sequestration, while extending Grazing by 17 weeks!!
J. McAdam, 2017Gordon, 2007
Our Future – A Ruminant Landscape Performance House1. The Optimisation of Soil, Sward, Meat Quality
“SmartSward” – Future Proofing Irish Livestock Sustainability, Beef & Lamb
UCD (Dr Helen Sheridan) Application to 2017 DAFM Call
Our Future – A Ruminant Landscape Performance House2. The Optimisation of Soil, Sward, Meat Quality & Human Health Relationships
Heartland Plus, a Marie Curie Application
Seeking Support for five Early Stage Researchers
Our Future – One of Wageningen’s Six International Lighthouse FarmsA Multi Disciplined Farming Platform for International Research & Outreach
But….. Need to Minimise Risks & Understand Trade Offs!!!!
Dowth’s herd of Wild Red Deer, 30 to 130, depending on Season
Enhancing Value of Dowth vis a vis Delivering Trials, Possible Diseases & Damage to Trees!!
Our Future - The Devenish Lands at Dowth
A Global Centre for Innovation, Research, Public Engagement & Outreach11,000 People in Last Year
- EU Ag Commissioner - USDA & FDA- Ag. Policy Teams, ROI & NI- Ministers of Ag. ROI & NI- UCD, QUB- Wageningen RC & INRA- European Animal Science- Waitrose Supermarkets- Community Days- Farm Africa- Moy Park, Glanbia, ABP
Thank You !!
