SFI Light Soils Herbal Ley
Ref: SFILIGHT
A dual purpose soil improving Herbal ley that can be both cut and grazed throughout the year, tailored to suit particularly light soils prone to drought, these deep rooting, robust species ensures the ley stays green throughout the summer months. br>This mix is mainly used for grazing, but can be cut for silage if the forage gets away from the stock.
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Contents per Acre | % | kg | |
![]() | certified SPARTA cocksfoot | 24.5 | 2.450 |
![]() | certified LOFA festulolium | 16.0 | 1.600 |
![]() | certified SWAJ tall fescue | 7.0 | 0.700 |
![]() | certified CALIBRA tet. perennial ryegrass | 8.0 | 0.800 |
![]() | certified Comtal timothy | 4.0 | 0.400 |
![]() | commercial Sainfoin | 16.0 | 1.600 |
![]() | certified Callisto red clover | 4.0 | 0.400 |
![]() | certified Luzelle lucerne - RHIZOBIUM INOCULATED | 3.0 | 0.300 |
![]() | commercial sweet clover | 2.5 | 0.250 |
![]() | certified LEO birdsfoot trefoil | 1.5 | 0.150 |
![]() | Burnet forage herb | 4.5 | 0.450 |
![]() | certified PUNA II chicory | 4.0 | 0.400 |
![]() | Sheeps Parsley forage herb | 3.0 | 0.300 |
![]() | certified ENDURANCE ribgrass | 2.0 | 0.200 |
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot Trefoil is a legume, it grows from a basal crown, with numerous stems that can vary from prostrate to erect in growth habit. In some parts of the country it is called the 'eggs and bacon' plant.
Birdsfoot Trefoil Species Guide Buy Birdsfoot Trefoil Straight
Burnet
Burnet is a forage herb, It is noted for having deep tap roots, which helps it remain green on thin, dry soils. It is also early to grow in the spring, contributing to forage in late March to April.
Chicory
Chicory is an eye catching, mineral rich forage herb that has a long taproot capable of penetrating to great depth, breaking through plough pans and leaving the soil aerated, aiding drainage and crop root development. It’s frequently used in combination with other species as a soil improving species and is commonly used as an addition to grazing leys due to its high protein content and its ability to fatten lambs. It is also a known anthelmintic species.
Cocksfoot
A densely tufted, bluish green species, it can grow up to 1 metre in height and can create tussocks. The dense one sided panicle is said to resemble the shape of a cocks foot.
Festulolium (Hybrid)
Festulolium is a natural hybridisation of ryegrass and fescue species, combining the stress resistant genes of fescue with the bulky yield of ryegrass. To provide a more resilient species, with a better tolerance of drought or water logged soils, while still providing high yielding, very palatable forage.
Festulolium (Hybrid) Species Guide Buy Festulolium (Hybrid) Straight
Lucerne
Also known as alfalfa in the states, lucerne benefits animal health and soil fertility. It is a high protein forage crop which is usually grown on its own and is very good on drought-prone soils. It establishes relatively slowly, producing significantly more biomass in the second and third years. Lucerne should only be grown on free-draining, alkaline soil. Lucerne requires the correct strain of rhizobia (known as an inoculant) to efficiently fix atmospheric nitrogen and get the most growth.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is the most commonly grown productive grass in the UK, used particularly for livestock grazing and forage. It has been the subject of plant breeding for over 60 years, ensuring there are a wide range of perennial ryegrass varieties available commercially.
Perennial Ryegrass Species Guide Buy Perennial Ryegrass Straight
Red Clover
Red clover is one of the most popularly used true clovers in the UK. Once established it’s capable of rapid growth and shows reasonably good persistence up to three years, although ongoing breeding work is being carried out to increase plant persistence. The highest yielding strains of red clover are called 'double cut' varieties, normally providing quick regrowth after cutting and several flushes or cuts per season. The 'single cut' strains of red clover, notably the variety altaswede provide one large cut per season, flowering approximately 10 days later than the 'double cut' strains.
Ribgrass (plantain)
Ribgrass is a very popular perennial forage herb which is commonly mixed with sheep's parsley, yarrow and burnet to increase diversity and lift trace elements from deep within the soil profile. It can be mixed with regular grassland species to increase grazing quality, and with deep roots it is also popular in mixtures for lighter land. It is also known as Plantain or narrow leaf plantain.
Ribgrass (plantain) Species Guide Buy Ribgrass (plantain) Straight
Sainfoin
Sainfoin is extremely palatable to livestock and has very good nutritional balance. It can be grazed or fed as hay or silage. It suits the thin soils and limestone rich downlands found in some areas of the UK. Loosely translated sainfoin in French means 'Healthy Hay'.
Sheeps Parsley
Sheeps parsley is a common forage herb, usually mixed with ribgrass, yarrow and burnet to increase diversity and lift trace elements from deep within the soil profile. It can be mixed with regular grassland species to increase grazing diversity.
Sweet Clover
Sweet clover (also known as yellow blossom) is a tall biennial plant. There are two forms, one white flowered and one yellow, with little difference between them. Once established it is aggressive, producing a large tap root and significant biomass.
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is found throughout the UK, it has similar features to meadow fescue, however it is distinguished by being taller, and coarser, with a rough upper leaf and margins. The well developed root system means it is tolerant of drought, damp and frost, which has created interest among plant breeders, looking to cross highly productive ryegrass and resilient fescue species as festuloliums. Recent thinking has altered the Latin so that the flat leaved fescues (meadow fescue and tall fescue) have been given their own genus, separate from the finer leaved fescues.
Timothy
Possibly the most important and flexible grass species which is used both environmentally and agriculturally. It is a very common species found in pasture throughout the UK. It retains its verdure longer than most grasses and although similar to smaller cats tail, it is larger in size with wider leaves and a longer spike like panicle.